Bulawayo, (New Ziana) –Zimbabweans on Friday ignored calls for mass protests which had been called by war veteran and expelled Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza through social media, in an attempt to unseat the democratically elected government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Despite the online campaign by Geza and his allies urging people to take to the streets, Zimbabweans in most towns and cities ignored that calls and went about their normal routines amid guarantees of protection by the police.
A snap survey by New Ziana showed that business operations were uninterrupted across most cities with commuter omnibuses operating normally, while schools opened as usual, and popular trading hubs like the Mbare Musika in the capital and the 5th Avenue market in Bulawayo operating as usual.
There was minimal police presence in the Central Business District (CBD), except in known areas where the protest organisers had rallied residents to gather, indicating that the anticipated protests had failed to gain traction.
Residents interviewed said they could not afford to miss work or close their businesses due to unauthorised calls for protests.
“We can’t follow orders from social media. We have children to feed,” said Malcolm Dube, a vendor operating in the Bulawayo Central Business District.
Grace Marukutira, a resident of Glen View 3 in Harare, described the idea of demonstrations as retrogressive, especially given the country’s fragile economy.
“Let us resort to dialogue to solve our differences. We cannot hurt our economy because of political disagreements,” she said.
Others pointed to past experiences where protests advertised as peaceful quickly turned violent, leading to looting, property destruction, and economic setbacks for small business owners.
Reports from other cities including Chinhoyi, Bindura, Gweru, Marondera, Masvingo and Mutare indicated that the situation was normal with people going about their businesses undeterred amid peace and security.
Meanwhile, the police had earlier warned that anyone participating in unsanctioned protests would face the full wrath of the law.
New Ziana
