Harare, (New Ziana) – Opposition demonstrations called for Monday largely flopped in the capital Harare, with peace and calm prevailing, and no sign of agitated gatherings.

Opposition groups, led by splinter members of war veterans, called for anti-government marches on Monday, ostensibly to protest against the rising cost of living.

The government, concerned by some political undertones of the messaging around the protests, banned the marches, and placed security agencies on full alert to thwart possible disturbances.

But the public, in and around Harare, largely ignored the protest call, with life running as normal, albeit at a slow, reduced pace compared to the everyday hyper-activity in the city.

Streets had light human and vehicle traffic, and most shops were closed in the early hours of the morning.

Police put up a few road blocks leading into the city, and mounted light patrols in the streets to ensure public security and calm.

In the lead up to Monday’s flopped demonstrations, some war veterans had called for the government to be toppled on grounds it had, allegedly, failed to tackle economic challenges.

The government said the calls were a ruse masking succession political ambitions in the ruling ZANU-PF party ahead of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s end of tenure in 2028.

President Mnangagwa is in his final term in office, and has indicated he would abide by the constitution and refrain from seeking an extension, despite growing calls in the party to do so.

The government believes angling for the top position, and not its alleged failure to tackle economic challenges, is behind the calls for the demonstrations.

Banks, big retail shops such as OK and TM supermarkets and government offices, were all open in Harare, while the small shops slowly began to open as the day progressed in peace.

Government’s ban of the protests was based on past experience where these degenerated into violent orgies in which people died, and property destroyed and looted on a massive scale.

New Ziana