Amid the Zimbabwe’s political crisis, hope and drinking frustration Business and economics

Harari, Zimbabwe – On April afternoon, the 41 -year -old Twanda sat down with four friends in an outdoor bar. They were discussing anti -government protests, as the police arrested about half of the 200 demonstrators.

On March 31, the demonstrators met after an invitation to demonstrations by a former member of President Zimbabwe Party Emerson Manangaga.

Zvamaida lives in Chitungwiza, a town about 25 km from the capital, Hiari, and his mind for the opposition party, the Citizen Alliance for Change (CCC). Several population supported the protests, but they did not attend. The country was brought on that day – the streets were quiet as companies and schools closed, and Zimbabwe remained like Zvamaida, a store assistant in a shop in Central Herrarie, at home. Despite the police assurance that the situation was “peaceful”, many were afraid of violence.

The demonstrators called for Mnangagwa, who reached power in 2017 after the army toppled former President Robert Mugabe, to step down and create what they insist on is the corrupt political elite and the faltering economy. He accused their arrest Throw the stones In the police, I have since faced charges of “participating in a gathering with the intention of strengthening public violence.”

“I personally love participating in the protests, but there was no clear plan for coordination,” he explained. Without this, it is believed that “fear of people who wanted to protest, and that arrests show that the police will not tolerate any form of opposition.

The moment of hope

An internal division led to the movement of the ruling Zanu-PF partyWho has been in power since independence in 1980. Manangagua’s supporters, who want him to rule until 2030-despite the constitutional limit over a long period of time and whose term will end in 2028-will oppose this.

The blessed “Bombeshil” Jiza, a veterans of the Zimbabwe war of Britain, called for the mass demonstrations. He was expelled from Zanu-PF on March 6 after he called the president to go, and he is now wanted by the police for undermining the president’s authority.

He accused the government of corruption and imprisoning the opposition votes without trial, and argued that Manangjoa, Who promised jobs and democracy When he reached power, he is surrounded by “criminals”.

For many Zimbabwean, the recent protests offered a moment of hope as they continue to push them to economic and democratic reforms.

Cassandra*says 37 -year -old fruit and vegetable seller with a road side kiosk in Chitongoza since the emergence of strong opposition in the late 1990s, has not had the elections in Zimbabwe.

Opinion polls with violence and repression Torment Among the opposition members, forgery of elections. “He stole our vote for a democratic change,” she said.

Under Mengja,, Activists of the opposition party He was imprisoned to gather together.

Meanwhile, for nearly three decades, Zimbabwe faced an economic crisis characterized by high food prices, loss of currency value and decreased wages.

Cassandra says that many of her friends left Zimbabwe to neighboring countries and Europe due to a lack of job opportunities.

She believes that Zimbabwe needs a new leader, but she does not think that Manangjoa, 82, will voluntarily resign, and don’t think it will be possible to have a leader outside Zanu-PF.

“The government is repressive. We cannot tolerate this. But, only escape can go out frankly because, on the other hand, this persecution implants fear in the majority,” Casandra explained.

“We are suffering”

In the Chitungwiza neighborhood of Manyame Park, residents say they have lived without running water for more than 20 years and they should buy drinking water and bathing from mobile reservoirs.

The wealthy inhabitants of the paper suburbs of Herrari cows themselves from the lack of water by digging private wells, an expensive endeavor that people in Chitongozuza and low -income suburbs in Harari carry it.

Throughout the country, most people have lost a stable income because the economic crisis forces companies to close. People are largely working in the informal economy as sellers, “Pirate Taxi” drivers (operating private cars without commercial registration), and waiters in the food courts in the backyard and as security guards.

“We are suffering in this country, however the elite is looting and enjoying. We have no hope for the current government,” said Takura Makota, a 38-year-old pirate driver who spoils the Chitongoza-Rari Road, and a resident of Minams Park.

Zvamaida said, referring to the so-called “giving pioneers”-close to senior government officials who believe that many believed repeatedly and repeatedly from taxpayer money.

Last March, the first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and her husband It was approved by the United States For their alleged involvement in the illegal gold and diamond networks. Upon his re -election in 2023, Mnangagwa appointed his son, David, as the deputy minister of finance and his nephew Tonghai as the deputy minister of tourism. Another son, Emmerson JR, is also punished by the United States Due to his links with Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a businessman accused of using his wealth to obtain state contracts. Another rich businessman, Wicknell isWho has government relations and links with Mnangagwa, known for his cheerful lifestyle – driving expensive cars, using a private plane and wearing expensive jewelry. He got a tender Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to build a solar project in 2015 at a cost of $ 172 million. Ten years after the line, the project did not see daylight. A court surveyed violations in 2023, and ZPC ordered a fine of $ 25 million.

Makota said: “You see all the people around the president who buy helicopters and private planes, in a country where the majority are unemployed, the roads are reserved and do not have cancer hospitals (radiotherapy),” Makota said.

In Chitungwiza, Makota says the deteriorating infrastructure is a fixed problem. The methods that were built in the 1990s were not preserved, as bus stations are operated and the sewers are often banned, which poses a risk to health.

He added: “With the appropriate coordination, I am sure that we can soon protest again, because the majority is hungry and not happy.”

“It is very tense.”

In EpWorth, the Perurban settlement located in Central Harari, where Zanu-PF and CCC supported the uninterrupted political situation in the country.

Many residents came to the Erty as the victims of the “Morambetvina” operation (the filth scanning) carried out by the Mogabi government in 2005. The police burned, wandered and destroyed tens of thousands of property, which led to the collective evacuation of people from their homes and companies throughout the country.

Although government officials said that the operation was designed to target urbanization and criminal activity, according to activists, lawyers and victims. Human Rights Watch They believed that the destruction was designed to punish the people who voted in favor of the opposition in the recent elections and prevent an uprising against the aggravating economic situation.

While GEZA and his supporters decide a way forward, Lauren Mawasa, a local resident and politician CCC, says that the mood in EpWorth is particularly tense.

Since the protests, Mawasa said that people who usually act avoid the area.

Tremore*, 42, a carpenter in Astrath, believes that people are afraid to speak frankly about economic difficulties for fear of being guilty by supporters supporters.

“People are divided, this is the problem. It is unfortunate that we all suffer from the same thing and have suffered for a long time, but … some fear of persecution and support the ruling party. It is sad that the ruling party has a history of violence. So at the present time, it is very tense, because people do not know what to say or to those who prepare each other,” he explained.

Zvamaida, the assistant store from Chitungwiza, believes that citizens can make change, but they need someone to unite it and will only take them to the streets if there is a guarantee of safety. “People are already angry, but it is those elements that will bring them to the streets,” he said.

The official spokesperson for the government and the Minister of Information, Jinnvan Muswire, did not respond to Al -Jazeera calls.

*The name has been changed