Zimbabwean police have arrested 95 individuals on charges of inciting public violence after they participated in demonstrations calling for the resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Al Jazeera reports.
The arrests follow a significant police presence in Harare and other cities on Monday, effectively suppressing a call by war veterans for large-scale protests against plans to extend Mnangagwa’s rule.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party announced in January its intention to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years, pushing it to 2030. Mnangagwa, 82, who assumed power in 2017 after the military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, is currently serving what should be his final term.
The demonstrations were spearheaded by independence war veterans, led by Blessed Geza, who previously supported Mnangagwa but have since turned against him, accusing him of attempting to cling to power.
The individuals arrested appeared in court on Tuesday. According to police charges cited by AFP, the 95 were part of a group of 200 who gathered at Harare’s Freedom Square. They are accused of throwing stones at police officers and briefly barricading a major road. The charges also state that the protesters chanted slogans such as “Enough is enough” and “Mnangagwa must go.”
Police allege these actions violated laws against disturbing the peace and participating in gatherings with the intent to promote public violence.
The heavy security presence in the capital on Monday curtailed the size of the demonstrations. However, many shops, schools, and businesses remained closed, leading to what some described as a stay-away protest.
Geza expressed gratitude to his supporters on social media for responding to his call for protest. He announced that he would not be calling for further demonstrations at this time, but promised a series of future events aimed at removing Mnangagwa and his “corrupt cabal” from power.
