The US embassy in Zimbabwe openly pinned its mast on the
anti-Government movement in Harare yesterday after it made a desperate call for
the opposition to demonstrate against President Mnangagwa’s administration.
The MDC-Alliance and its civil society flotilla had sold
yesterday as a day for a “national shutdown”, a codeword for violent
demonstrations predicated on bringing business to a halt in the country.
For its part, the US Embassy, long-linked to subversive
activities in the country to effect illegal regime change tweeted: “All citizens and their civic leaders, political parties,
or civil society organisations have the constitutional right to peaceful
assembly and association. All important roles to play in contributing to
Zimbabwe’s future and must be given the
space and freedom to do so.’’
However, the “shutdown” failed yesterday.
It was business as usual as Zimbabweans ignored calls on
social media by rogue elements within opposition parties and civil society to
stay away from work as a way of pushing President Mnangagwa out of power.
Social media was awash with calls from opposition parties,
civil organisations and even the United States Embassy in Harare inciting
people to demonstrate, albeit hiding behind democratic rights to demonstrate as
enshrined in the Constitution.
The messages inciting people to engage in violent behaviour
come immediately after MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has repeatedly called
on his party supporters to effect illegal regime change.
The Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance is known to have been
clandestinely organising violent protests to push for regime change.
The demonstration turned out to be a big yawn as people
continued with their businesses as usual despite spirited calls for
disturbances.
This proved true what President Mnangagwa said in Gweru
during a graduation parade for Zimbabwe National Army Cadet Officers that
Zimbabweans are peace loving people.
President Mnangagwa had said that all efforts to disturb
the peace enjoyed in the country were bound to fail as Zimbabweans by nature
shun violence.
Truly, the efforts by regime change agenda to cause
despondency failed yesterday as Zimbabweans shunned calls for stay away and
continued with their errands.
Police were on high alert to check on unscrupulous elements
that threatened the people’s peace.
Sensing that the
stay away had flopped, rogue elements in
opposition parties and civil society tried in vain to threaten people with
violence but they never heeded the call to leave town.
In a statement that circulated on social media, it
threatened people with violence for turning a deaf ear on their calls to
demonstrate.
“Everyone who is in town right now risks losing their
lives, and belongings. Everyone who sent their children to school please risks
losing their beloved and innocent children.
“Every company or individuals vane mota dziri pa road risks
losing their vehicles, kombis, taxis, buses and trucks.
“We don’t want to repeat the same as what happened in
January, please don’t force us to be violent we have sent you a clear message
which circulated in the previous two days about today’s stay away and it seems
as if you are relying on ZRP propaganda by 12:00 please please tapota by 12:00 munhu wese ngaabude mu town nhasi,
munhu wese budai mu town (Everyone must leave the central business district) be
it Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru Masvingo, Mutare, torai vana vamaendesa kuzvikoro
(pick up your children from school) before 12:00 today we are going to close
all the roads, burning mota dzese dzichafamba after 12:00pm nhasi,” reads the
statement.
However, people were not moved by the threats and continued
with their business as usual.
Demonstrations have proved that they are not good for the
country as they disrupt business and can be used by unscrupulous elements to
loot.
Zimbabwe Retailers Association’s Denford Mutashu told
Zimpapers owned radio station Star FM that negotiation between Government and
business was the only way to solve the economic situation and not
demonstrations.
Police yesterday said they were ready to deal with anyone
who engages in any form of violence following social media reports by some
rogue elements calling for a so-called national shutdown.
They are threatening to punish people conducting their
business or going to work, burn vehicles, destroy shops and stopping children
from going to school, among other illegal activities.
The ZRP which is now on high alert to thwart any
disturbances countrywide has since started conducting investigations on the
source of this alarming message.
In a statement on Wednesday national police spokesperson
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned anyone who engages in any form of
violence that they will be arrested and face the full wrath of the law. Herald
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