The
mass
stay-away
dealt
a
significant
blow
to
the
government’s
attempts
to
project
the
day
as
business
as
usual,
exposing
growing
discontent
over
the
ruling
Zanu
PF’s
efforts
to
extend
Mnangagwa’s
rule
beyond
the
constitutional
two-term
limit.
In
the
days
leading
up
to
the
planned
protest,
the
Zimbabwean
government
deployed
heavy
security
forces,
creating
an
atmosphere
of
intimidation.
Military
and
police
vehicles,
some
numbering
up
to
20
in
a
single
patrol,
roamed
the
streets,
with
soldiers
in
riot
gear
and
police
officers
on
high
alert.
The
show
of
force
stunned
citizens,
prompting
many
to
stay
indoors
rather
than
risk
confrontations
with
security
personnel.
The
movement,
dubbed
March
31
(M31)
Resistance,
was
initiated
by
Blessed
“Bombshell”
Geza,
a
war
veteran
and
former
intelligence
officer
reportedly
aligned
with
Vice
President
Constantino
Chiwenga.
The
power
struggle
between
Mnangagwa
and
Chiwenga
has
reportedly
intensified
in
recent
months,
with
Mnangagwa’s
faction
pushing
for
a
constitutional
amendment
to
extend
his
presidency
to
2030
—
a
move
strongly
opposed
by
Chiwenga’s
camp.
As
the
day
began
in
Bulawayo,
it
was
far
from
business
as
usual,
with
major
businesses,
including
small
shops
and
informal
market
stalls,
remaining
closed.
Only
large
supermarkets
and
food
outlets
cautiously
remained
open,
while
several
schools
shut
their
doors
and
others
turned
away
students.
Public
transportation
was
scarce,
leaving
commuters
stranded
as
buses
and
taxis
largely
avoided
the
city
center.
In
Harare,
tensions
escalated
by
midday
as
protesters
gathered
at
Rotten
Row
Road,
chanting
anti-Mnangagwa
slogans
such
as
“Taramba
2030”
(We
reject
2030).
The
demonstrators,
mostly
youths,
barricaded
roads
with
stones,
prompting
a
police
crackdown.
Officers
fired
tear
gas
in
an
attempt
to
disperse
the
crowd,
resulting
in
chaotic
scenes
outside
the
Harare
Magistrates’
Court
and
at
Robert
Mugabe
Square,
which
became
a
flashpoint
for
running
battles
between
police
and
protesters.
As
protesters
regrouped,
the
police
engaged
in
a
‘cat-and-mouse’
chase,
attempting
to
quell
the
unrest.
In
Bulawayo,
the
city
center
remained
relatively
calm,
but
the
impact
of
the
stay-away
was
unmistakable.
Traffic
was
unusually
light,
and
police
officers,
equipped
with
riot
control
gear,
were
stationed
at
key
intersections.
At
the
popular
Fifth
Avenue
market,
many
vendors
closed
their
stalls,
covering
their
goods
in
anticipation
of
trouble.
While
some
supermarkets,
such
as
Spar,
remained
open,
customer
traffic
was
significantly
lower
than
usual.
In
contrast,
fast-food
outlets
like
Chicken
Inn
saw
only
a
handful
of
patrons,
indicating
that
many
residents
preferred
to
stay
indoors.
Egodini
Terminus
and
Shashe
Market,
normally
hives
of
activity,
were
eerily
empty,
with
little
to
no
movement
of
people.
Long-distance
buses
to
Mutare
and
Harare
were
limited,
further
underscoring
the
impact
of
the
protest.
Police
patrols
were
visible
across
the
city,
ensuring
that
any
potential
gatherings
were
quickly
dispersed
before
they
could
escalate.
The
protests
and
stay-away
measures
had
a
nationwide
ripple
effect,
with
reports
of
business
closures
and
heightened
security
in
other
towns.
In
townships
such
as
Makokoba,
residents
were
initially
hesitant
to
leave
their
homes,
but
by
midday,
normal
activities
had
begun
to
resume,
with
children
playing
outside
and
locals
going
about
their
daily
chores.
In
parts
of
Harare
and
Bulawayo,
some
businesses,
including
pharmacies,
operated
partially,
keeping
their
doors
only
halfway
open
as
a
precaution.
Others,
particularly
car
dealerships,
took
extreme
measures,
removing
vehicles
from
showrooms
to
prevent
potential
damage
or
looting.
The
government’s
response
to
the
planned
demonstrations
was
characterised
by
heavy-handed
tactics.
Roadblocks
were
set
up
at
various
points,
including
key
intersections
in
major
cities.
In
Harare,
vehicles
were
stopped
and
searched
near
Heroes
Acre
along
Bulawayo
Road,
with
law
enforcement
officers
on
high
alert
for
any
signs
of
protest
activity.
The
security
deployment
came
at
a
significant
cost
to
the
state,
with
critics
arguing
that
security
forces
outnumbered
ordinary
citizens
on
the
streets.
The
overwhelming
police
and
military
presence
gave
cities
an
eerie
feel,
resembling
a
police
parade
more
than
an
ordinary
workday.
Contacted
for
comment,
opposition
politician
Iphithule
Maphosa
said
the
March
31
movement
may
have
been
characterised
more
by
a
stay-away
than
open
protest,
but
its
impact
had
sent
a
clear
message
to
the
Mnangagwa
administration.
“Zimbabweans
are
resisting
the
third-term
push.
The
effectiveness
of
the
stay-away
demonstrated
widespread
discontent
and
public
fear
over
government
repression,”
he
said.
Another
analyst,
Dr.
Vusumuzi
Sibanda,
said,
“Possibly,
the
protest
movement
is
far
from
over.”
“We
expect
to
see
more
power
struggles
in
Zanu
PF,”
he
claimed,
adding
that
there
would
be
“increased
political
maneuvering
and
possibly
more
heavy-handed
responses
from
security
forces.”
Dr.
Sibanda
lamented
that,
instead
of
progressing,
the
country
“remains
on
edge.”
“Everyone
will
be
watching
closely—whether
on
social
media
or
elsewhere—to
see
how
this
battle
unfolds,”
he
said.