By Staff Reporter
HEAVY police and military presence has been deployed across Zimbabweโs major cities. Heavily armed riot police, water cannons, and armoured vehicles have been spotted patrolling key areas in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare, as the government seeks to prevent any form of mass mobilisation.
Shoppers and commuters in central Harare reported being stopped and searched, while some businesses have chosen to close early, fearing potential clashes. In several high-density suburbs, reports have emerged of security forces setting up roadblocks and conducting random identity checks, a move critics say is designed to intimidate citizens.
โThe situation is tense. It feels like we are under siege,โ said a resident from Mbare. โThe government is trying to stop people from protesting, but people are determined to express their anger.โ
Zimbabweans are struggling under soaring inflation, a rapidly depreciating local currency, and widespread unemployment. The countryโs economic crisis has deepened, with shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic commodities exacerbating public frustration. Government workers, including teachers and healthcare professionals, have staged repeated strikes over low wages and poor working conditions, while businesses face collapse due to economic instability.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and other activist groups have joined Gezaโs calls for protests, warning that Zimbabwe is heading for a social explosion. โThe people are tired, they have been patient for too long,โ said a political analyst based in Harare. โWith war veterans now leading the charge, the government may find itself in a precarious position.โ
Beyond public unrest, Mnangagwa is also facing fierce opposition from within his own party. Reports indicate that he is seeking to extend his rule beyond the constitutional two-term limit, eyeing a third term that would see him remain in power beyond 2030. This has triggered serious tensions within ZANU-PF, as factions led by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and key war veterans strongly oppose the move.
Chiwenga, who played a pivotal role in the 2017 coup that brought Mnangagwa to power, is believed to be rallying support from influential war veterans and military elites who feel sidelined by Mnangagwaโs consolidation of power. Sources within ZANU-PF suggest that Chiwengaโs faction sees Mnangagwaโs attempt to extend his rule as a betrayal of the power-sharing arrangements initially agreed upon after Mugabeโs fall.
โThe war veterans and the military believe they were instrumental in bringing Mnangagwa to power, but now he is refusing to step aside and honour the rotation of leadership,โ said a senior political analyst. โThis internal battle could be just as significant as the growing civilian unrest.โ
