Shops and offices opened as usual across Zimbabwe on Wednesday despite a planned “shutdown” protest against President Robert Mugabe, who has vowed to end a series of anti-government demonstrations.
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A group of global elders that include Graca Machel, Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu has since called for Sadc to intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis and ensure a smooth transition of power in the country.
Witnesses at the airport said the president looked cheerful and told people he had been away attending to family matters. I resurrected as I always do.
However, the group pointed out the protests would not go violent sincethey believed in peace and stability, but were quick to say when attacked by police would retaliate.
Zimbabwe is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions including within his ruling ZANU-PF party.
One of the leaders of #Tajamuka, Promise Mkwananzi, was arrested in connection with last week’s protests that culminated in the setting alight of vehicles and market stalls in the capital city, Harare.
Zimbabwe has banned all demonstrations in the capital Harare for the next two weeks because they are likely to cause public disorder, according to a government notice issued on Thursday.
He said #Tajamuka was now preparing for Friday’s march, being planned by opposition parties to press Mugabe and the national election agency to create a level playing field ahead of the 2018 vote, which Mugabe plans to contest aged 94.
Speculation mounted when government officials refused to reveal why Mugabe’s jet had visited Dubai.
“In as much as we sympathise with Mugabe over his health problems, we urge him to search his soul and conscience, so that he sees that in his current physical shape and going towards 93, it is not good to cling onto power”, said Obert Gutu of the MDC-T.
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Rumours multiplied when The Southern Daily website reported that the president has suffered a “medical collapse” and that Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in control of the country.
