Some members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Nelson Chamisa staged a peaceful march in Harare on Wednesday afternoon soon after the party leader promised fireworks in the coming over the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe.
A 23-minute video circulating on social media, which was shot by NewDay newspaper, shows some of the youth singing revolutionary songs and denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government for failing to address issues affecting Zimbabweans, especially the declining economy that has resulted in high unemployment and unprecedented urban poverty.
The youth, carrying placards with anti-government messages and chanting MDC slogans, engaged in the spontaneous public protests around the Harare central business district.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unavailable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.
Indications are that nobody was arrested during the brief protest.
Chamisa told journalists in the capital that MDC supporters should brace for public protests designed to force Mnangagwa to address serious issues affecting the country.
“This year is a year of action, action in communities, action in the various localities and also action nationally coordinated by various players and actors.”
Two public protests in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the shooting to death of some people by Zimbabwe’s state security forces in Harare.