HARARE
–
The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
says
it
has
unearthed
a
plot
by
opposition
forces
to
roll
out
violent
protests
which
the
law
enforcement
agents
have
vowed
to
crush.
In
a
statement
on
Wednesday,
police
spokesperson
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
said
the
planned
protests
would
target
the
destruction
of
buildings
and
other
property.
Nyathi
mentioned
prominent
opposition
politicians,
Jacob
Ngarivhume
and
Amos
Chibaya
among
the
alleged
“instigators”
of
the
planned
protest.
“The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
warns
individuals
and
groups
who
have
been
identified
as
instigators,
inciters
and
ringleaders
of
criminal
elements
who
intend
to
unleash
violence
which
include
Malicious
Damage
to
Property,
by
burning
tyres
and
destroying
buildings,
that
the
full
wrath
of
the
law
will
be
effected
without
fear
or
favour,”
Nyathi
said.
“Some
of
the
suspects
have
been
identified
as
Jacob
Ngarivhume
and
Amos
Chibaya.
“The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
and
other
security
agencies
are
fully
alert
and
will
decisively
deal
with
unruly
elements
who
intend
to
disturb
the
existing
peaceful
environment.”
Apart
from
mentioning
their
names,
Nyathi
did
not
state
how
the
two
politicians
were
linked
to
planned
protests.
Ngarivhume
is
leader
of
the
opposition
Transform
Zimbabwe
while
Chibaya
is
a
former
CCC
MP
for
Mkoba.
Police
threats
follow
recent
calls
by
former
Zanu
PF
central
committee
member
Blessed
Geza’s
for
an
uprising
against
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
and
a
subsequent
stayaway
to
press
for
the
incumbent’s
exit.
Mnangagwa,
Zimbabwe’s
leader
since
2017,
is
under
fire
for
allegedly
sponsoring
high
level
corruption
and
plans
to
extend
his
term
of
office
beyond
2028,
the
time
his
two
term
limit
guaranteed
by
the
constitution
lapses.