By Evans Muranganwa.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South)- The much anticipated mega demo ‘Munhu Wese MuRoad’ was relatively a big flop as business was usual though there are reports of activists that were rounded up in the Africa Unity Square in Harare in the afternoon.
Early in the morning one of the organizers of the demo Patson Dzamara and other activists were abducted and assaulted at the same time the cars they were travelling in were torched by suspected security agents.
However,some of the activists had vowed to continue with the demonstration but it seems it proved a tall order for the protest to gather steam.
“We are going ahead with demonstration despite this setback where some of our cdes are now recuperating at Avenues Clinic ,”said a confident activist Charles Nyoni of Occupy Africa Unity Square on social media.
In the afternoon , prominent lawyer Fadzai Mahere who was the first to challenge the legality of bond notes and other activists were rounded by police after they had picketed Africa Unity Square and were detained at the Harare Central Police Station.
Confirming the arrest on Facebook ,former ZANU PF youth member Acie Lumumba said they were outnumbered by the police and they could not help out themselves.
“Friends I can confirm to you that Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, and the rest of the protesters who came out today have been arrested and are being held at Central Police most likely for the weekend. We where not enough to fend off the police,” wrote Lumumba
Zorodzai Takundwa a political analyst based in Harare in an interview with News of The South had predicted that the protest was going to flop.
“The idea about demonstration being the only way to force the Zanu PF government to listen to citizen concerns is myopic and I bet my last cent the ‘Munhu Wese MuRoad’ is going to fail as people are now fed up with protests that are not yielding any result,” said the political analyst.
Sylvanos Mudzvova of Tajamuka who was among the organizers attributed the flop to the assault of Patson Dzamara and the other activists as being the major repellent factor that led citizens not to join in the march in numbers.
“I think hen news started to filter in that Patson Dzamara was abducted and assaulted together with other protesters made citizens to panic,” hinted Mudzvova.
He also spoke on the divisions in the social movement as another contributing factor and called for unity of purpose.
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