M31 fails, what's next?

Zim Now Reporters

A call for mass protests by war veteran and ZANU-PF member turned social media activist Blessing Geza, dubbed the M31 Movement, ended in dismal turnout this Monday.

The event, intended to replicate the 2017 anti-Mugabe coup protests, saw minimal participation, with Harare’s streets deserted and shops shuttered against potential looting.

**Not business as usual, Harare and Bulawayo CBDs were mostly deserted as shops shuttered against looters and people stayed away in fear of violence**

The mass gathering call at Robert Mugabe Square was largely ignored except for a handful of people who were dispersed by the police.

The police had previously warned people that the protest was unsanctioned, and any gatherings would be treated as illegal activities.

Why the Protest Failed

Zim Now Reporters spoke to citizens off camera to get the mood and understand why people did not take part in the demonstrations, yet they clearly expressed negative sentiments against incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa and want him gone.

The reasons can be summed up as follows:

Fear of Violence: Citizens cited trauma from past mass action outcomes, which included violence and looting by marauding criminals masked as activists, civilian shootings by security forces, and arrests. Many expressed reluctance to "be caught between rioters and security forces as happened on August 1, 2018."
Distrust of Geza: Geza, an obscure figure who gained notoriety after a profanity-laced interview criticizing President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is viewed with skepticism. Critics accuse him of seeking political office for personal gain, with one protester stating, "He only wants to be in a position to loot. He does not care about the ordinary people and wants to use us for his own benefit.” Others pointed out that while journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who gave Geza prominence, remains incarcerated over the interview, Geza is free and remains in hiding, leaving Mhlanga to his fate at the hands of the state.
No clear leadership: With Vice President Constantino Chiwenga silent and apparently not an active player in the move to place him as the president, most people said that they are hesitant to be part of a murky movement with no clear direction. “What if we remove Mnangagwa and put in someone even worse?” asked one.

Despite the protest’s failure, the M31 Movement highlighted widespread frustrations as shared by those interviewed. The people outline the reasons for their frustration with the Second Republic as follows:

Corruption: Association with figures such as Wicknell Chivayo have seriously dented President Mnangagwa’s brand, and many people said they associate him with the most corrupt people in Zimbabwe. Citizens also said they have no confidence in the justice system’s ability to effectively prosecute such people because of their close association with the president.
Economic pressure: While Manangagwaunpopular ’s rule has seen some improvement, youth unemployment, currency instability, and soaring living costs persist.
Failed Public Services: Dilapidated infrastructure, erratic water supply, and collapsing healthcare and education systems plague communities, especially in high-density suburbs.
Political Repression: Mnangagwa faces accusations of engineering a "constitutional coup" to extend his rule beyond 2028, with even ZANU-PF members privately opposing him. His wife, Auxilia, is increasingly unpopular, and perceived as harboring presidential ambitions.

Asked what comes next, most people said that they will just watch as they feel they have no agency.

But the tepid response and public exhaustion do not necessarily mean that all is well. Anger at Mnangagwa’s government runs deep. But the lack of credible opposition leadership and fear of violence have left the masses in a state of frustrated despair.

For now, Zimbabweans will continue life as usual and wait for something to happen.