Harare, (New Ziana) – Reports from across the country pointed to a huge flop of Monday’s planned anti-government demonstrations by the opposition, with the public largely choosing to stay at home, than take part in the marches.

Splinter members of war veterans and some opposition groups had called for protests against the government on Monday to register displeasure over its alleged failure to arrest the rising cost of living.

The government had banned the demonstrations, fearing a repeat of past experiences in which these turned into violent orgies in which people died, and property destroyed and looted massively.

It had, however, pre-emptly placed security agencies on alert to thwart any possible disturbances, including mounting road blocks and patrols in and around cities.

But reports countrywide indicated the planned demonstrations had been shunned by the public, which instead chose to largely stay at home.

In most towns and cities, human and vehicle traffic was light, with most small businesses shut, at least in the early hours, before gradually opening as the day progressed smoothly.

But banks, government offices, fuel service stations, and big retail shops opened as usual in the morning for business undisturbed.

In the Midlands province, only severely limited transport services in the two biggest cities – Gweru and Kwekwe – appeared to have disturbed the normal flow of human activity.

As a result, people – including school children – were forced to abandon their normal routines. The picture was the same in Masvingo, where police maintained a heavy presence on the streets to ensure security and peace.

In Hwange, calm also prevailed, but people faced transport challenges even on inter-city routes such as Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

But shops and schools in the coal mining town were open as normal, with people having ignored and shrugged off the protest calls.

New Ziana