By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Young activists pushing for President Robert Mugabe’s ouster have vowed they will continue with their 16-day protests amid revelations that they were on Monday night surrounded by more than 20 unidentified men who threatened them with unspecified action.
Linda Masarira, the leader and founder of Women in Politics Alliance that is part of the protesting group camped within Africa Unity Square in Harare told Nehanda Radio that the gang circled the protesters late last night and shouted at them to go away.
“We remained unshaken. We know they are part of the security sector strategy to scare us but we won’t be intimidated and we will continue to pressurise Mugabe to heed our call to resign with immediate effect.
“Mugabe and his cabinet must rest and pave way for a younger and more capable leadership. He is now out of touch with reality and has caused millions of Zimbabweans unnecessary suffering. He has stolen our future and we need political leaders who will give us a new direction,” Masarira told Nehanda Radio.
The activist who has in the past been dragged before the courts for allegedly insulting Mugabe suffered a broken middle finger when a mob attacked the protesters early Saturday.
“I will endure the winter and nights until we go through the 16 days that we have planned for this protest. After that, I will go for surgery on my finger.
“The pain I am suffering right now is nothing compared to the suffering that millions of Zimbabweans are going through right now,” added Masarira.
She said the plain clothes gang that attacked them on Saturday wore military boots, showing that they were security operatives.
The attackers took away their phones and several of the protesters suffered injuries.
“The world is watching and has taken note of the crisis that we are going through. That is one achievement we have made as young activists. We need all to know that there are no jobs, hospital drugs and cash in Zimbabwe. We need them to know that some leaders has overstayed are milking the nation,” she said.
Africa Unity Square has become a favourite venue for anti-government protests.
Recently, thousands of MDC-T supporters gathered in the square to demonstrate against Mugabe’s misrule.
Itai Dzamara, the journalist-turned-activist who also pushed for Mugabe to step down and was abducted in early March last year led a team called Occupy Africa Unity Square (OAUS) that camped at the venue in central Harare.
Dzamara’s whereabouts are not yet known but his brother, Patson, last week called a press conference where he accused military intelligence of abducting the elder sibling.
Masarira said they would soon petition parliament to ensure Mugabe went. Nehanda Radio
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