Organizers of Wednesday’s national shutdown, Tajamuka Sesijikile Campaign, on Thursday gave President Robert Mugabe until the end of August to give the nation a timeline for the resolution of the country’s economic crisis.
The group also said President Mugabe should tell the nation about when he is likely to step after allegedly failing to properly run Zimbabwe.
Normalcy returned to Harare and most parts of the country today though police maintained a heavy presence in some suburbs that were rocked by violence Wednesday during the national shutdown.
Organizers, Tajamuka Sesijikile Campaign, commended Zimbabweans for a successful shutdown, adding there will be more action until President Robert Mugabe’s government addresses people’s concerns or resigns.
Tajamuka, Sesijikile spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi, said President Mugabe has become a sticking point in the resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis. He says Mr. Mugabe must go.
The group made several demands, which Mkwananzi said were not negotiable. These include the immediate release of all people arrested during protests in the last few days, a return of abducted human rights activists, the abandonment bond notes, a reversal of legislation banning the importation of some goods and the implementation of the new constitution and electoral reforms.
The group distanced itself from social media messages urging citizens to march to President Mugabe’s official residence at State House.
Mkwananzi said he was aware the government was planning all sorts of things to criminalize their non-violent campaign.
At the same time, Home Affairs Minister, Ignatius Chombo, said the ruling Zanu PF government would not be shaken by the countrywide protests, which he blamed on Western embassies.
He, however, said state security organs were working around the country to control the situation.
More than 150 people have been arrested countrywide since the protests started countrywide.
Zimbabwe National Students Union president, Alistar Pfunye, told Studio 7 the student community was proud of the Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign and they were fully behind it.
He said it presents a good platform for students to fight for their liberation from what he called a repressive state.
Political commentator and media center director, Enerst Mudzengi, the success of yesterday’s mass action shows the people’s deep resentment in the way they are treated by the government.
Meanwhile, President Mugabe is tomorrow expected to address a rally at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura Mashonaland Central province.
He is expected to address the issue of mounting protests and cash shortages, among many other issues