Zimbabwe: Anti-Mnangagwa demonstrations under high tension
Growing protests despite repression
Despite strict warnings from the authorities, small groups of demonstrators braved repression on March 31, 2025, in Harare and Bulawayo, demanding the departure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This mobilization, although limited, reflects a growing protest against the current government.
An unprecedented political sling
President Mnangagwa, 82, has faced political and popular opposition on an unprecedented scale since coming to power in 2017, following the coup against Robert Mugabe. Nicknamed “The Crocodile” for his political cunning, he is today criticized for the country’s economic crisis and his alleged maneuvers to extend his mandate beyond 2028.
The call to demonstrate was issued by Blessed Geza, a veteran of the war of independence and former ZANU-PF executive, who was recently expelled from the ruling party. From underground, he accuses the government of plotting to discredit the opposition. “I’m canceling the demonstration for now, but I’ll be back on Wednesday with a crucial message,” he announced on social networks.
Immediate repression and a tense capital
In Harare, police quickly dispersed demonstrators gathered in Robert Mugabe Square using tear gas. “It was billed as a peaceful march, but the police are already starting to beat people up,” testified a protester at CITE (Centre for Innovation and Technology). Some young people chanted “We don’t want 2030” before being dispersed by the police.
In Bulawayo, tension was also palpable, with businesses closed for fear of incidents and police patrols omnipresent. The city’s streets remained largely deserted throughout the day.
A split in power?
In addition to the demonstrations, protests are also spreading through the ranks of the government. Mnangagwa recently dismissed army chief Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, appointing him Minister of Sport, a move interpreted as an attempt to avert a military mutiny. Blessed Geza and his veteran faction are campaigning for the President to be replaced by his Vice-President, Constantino Chiwenga, the former general who orchestrated Mugabe’s overthrow in 2017. This internal struggle could mark a major turning point in Zimbabwe’s political future.
An increasingly uncertain political climate
A mass uprising is unlikely, but it’s clear that tensions within ZANU-PF are high,” says Pedzisai Ruhanya, director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute. Faced with an economy in crisis and increased repression, the next few days could be decisive for both the opposition and the Mnangagwa regime.
