Harare – Zimbabweans have stayed at home Monday morning, the day of mass protests to call for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down, as most urban centres were deserted.
Blessed Geza, a war veteran who called for mass protests on March 31 to have Mnangagwa leave office told his followers on social media late on Sunday that the protests are going ahead.
However, police, army and secret service details were deployed in huge numbers across the country to prevent any protests.
Bars were forced to close early on Sunday evening by police in some parts of the capital.
Some schools in Bulawayo were closed on Monday morning, leaving some learners stranded according to people in the second city.
Pictures on social media show central business districts of Harare and Bulawayo deserted at 9 A.M.
Zimbabweans generally start their working day at 8 A.M.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have taken a cautious approach to mass protests as police and the army have shot dead people for protesting.
Six people were shot dead point blank by the army on August 1, 2018 after they took to the streets to protest against delays of the announcement of election results.
Geza, a former Central Committee member of ZANU PF has openly called Mnangagwa to step down saying he has failed to run the country.
He accused Mnangagwa of corruption and nepotism.
Geza named dozens of people whom he said were stealing from the state, they include Mnangagwa’s wife Auxillia, businessmen Wicknell Chivhayo, Kuda Tagwirei and Obey Chimuka, among many others.
Zimbabwe has high unemployment, poverty and poor social services.
Last night, they were reports that Chris Mutsvangwa the ZANU PF spokesman and his wife Monica Mutsvangwa were spotted on Emirates EK714 to Dubai.
Social media activists who support the protests got excited and were suggesting the Mutsvangwas were now fleeing the country ahead of protests.
Zimbabwe government has banned protests and demonstrations in the past years.