Source: Nqobani Ndlovu, NewsDay
The #MugabeMustFall campaign heads to Matabeleland South province where organisers have threatened a “temporary shutdown” of Beitbridge Border Post on Monday to ratchet up pressure on President Robert Mugabe, over his government’s failed economic policies.
The planned shutdown, according to the organisers, is intended to advise Mugabe of the swelling public anger over his misrule and demand a repeal of Statutory Instrument 64/2016 that restricts imports into Zimbabwe.
Hapson Ncube, one of the protest coordinators, told Southern Eye yesterday that their members were on the ground mobilising support for the demonstrations.
“We have notified the cross-border traders’ associations about our planned Monday protest at Beitbridge,” he said.
“We remain resolute and dedicated to rebuilding Zimbabwe. No amount of arrests and police heavy-handed tactics will deter the masses, who now want change.”
The group said it had also circulated messages on social media platforms, warning travellers to reschedule their cross-border trips, lest they will be caught up in the crossfire.
“From August 8, 2016, we will close down all commercial activities at all of Zimbabwe’s borders. Please stay home until further notice. We demand that the government of Zimbabwe abolishes Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which bans imports into Zimbabwe,” part of the messages read.
“Churches, cross border traders’ associations, civic groups and all other organisations advise your members to stay at home we’re closing borders.”
The planned protest follows the anti-bond notes protests held in Harare on Wednesday, which later turned riotous after police indiscriminately attacked the protestors and barred them from handing in a petition at Parliament Building.
Early last month, cross-border traders turned violent and briefly closed Beitbridge Border Post in protest over the import ban, before setting ablaze a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) warehouse.
The country has in the past few weeks witnessed several anti-government protests, including the “national shutdown” led by cleric, Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement on July 6.
But, Mugabe has scoffed at the protests, saying he would not be pushed out of office by foreign-funded agents of regime change.
Source: Nqobani Ndlovu, NewsDay