HARARE – Allegations of President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeking a 2030 term extension sparked widespread protests and stay-aways in Harare and other regions in Zimbabwe on March 31st, resulting in confrontations between the police and the protesting public.
The protests, dubbed M31, called for by a faction of the war veterans led by Blessed Geza, saw a mixed response across Zimbabwe.
The demonstrations are centred on opposition to Mnangagwa’s alleged attempts to extend his term of office to 2030, a move deemed unconstitutional by critics.
Reports from the ground indicated that some youths gathered in the Rotten Row area on Monday afternoon, chanting slogans rejecting the 2030 agenda.
They went on to barricade the intersection of Rotten Row and Robert Mugabe Road. However, Riot Police intervened, deploying tear gas to disperse protesters at Robert Mugabe Square and near Rainbow Towers (Freedom Square).
A widespread stay-away, with government schools witnessing a significant absence of pupils has also been witnessed. Parents reportedly chose to keep their children at home. Businesses in other small towns like Chinhoyi, Chivhu and Mvuma reportedly remained closed.
Pride Mkono, a political activist believes there is a widespread agreement that President Mnangagwa seeking to extend his rule to 2030 is detrimental to Zimbabwe.
“I think there is a shared understanding and acceptance that Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his ruinous rule to 2030 is bad for the country.
“Blessed Geza and some war veterans have been the most outspoken agitators against this but it is a publicly shared view,” Mkono told Nehanda Radio.
“On one hand there is an appreciation that this is a Zanu PF internal succession fight and on the other that it has implications for the country as a whole. So when it comes to protests, I think it’s a question of each doing what is safe and possible for them.
“For the militant agitators they have gone out and engaged in the streets while a many stayed at home to register their discontent and also because they fear victimisation by the repressive state apparatus.
“At the end of the day a strong message has been sent and Mnangagwa can only ignore it at his peril.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a statement in the afternoon, asserting that the situation in Harare’s central business district (CBD) was “normal and calm.”
The statement, however, contradicted the situation on the ground.
“The ZRP reiterates that the situation in Harare CBD is normal and calm including at Robert Mugabe Square where some social media sites are falsely claiming that there are people barricading roads with stones. This is not correct.
“The public should ignore calls by individuals and syndicates through some social media sites to engage in unlawful public gathering activities.
“The Police warn social media sites against the circulation of old videos with the aim of causing alarm and despondency in the country,” the police stated.
The protests have highlighted internal divisions within Zanu-PF, with the M31 resistance movement, reportedly aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, openly opposing Mnangagwa’s alleged ambitions.
