Thousands of exasperated Zimbabweans gathered Thursday in a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” Some cheered the protesters from kilometers-long lines at gas stations that still have fuel.
Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Protestors take part in a demonstration in Harare, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Zimbabweans are gathering for a nationwide protest over the country’s economic collapse and what the opposition calls the new government’s “cocktail of lies.” (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is under growing pressure one year after taking office following the removal of longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Tensions remain high after July’s disputed election that Mnangagwa narrowly won.
Zimbabwe’s government is struggling to even arrange a reliable currency as many citizens in the southern African nation say they’ve seen no progress on promises of “jobs, job, jobs.” Inflation spiked to 20.9 percent in October, the highest since 2009.
The protest played out peacefully under heavy security in the capital, Harare, with opposition supporters singing anti-government songs.
Main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, echoing some of the other speakers, said life in Zimbabwe is more difficult now than under Mugabe.
“Our lives are worse off,” he told the crowd, promising to intensify the street protests until the political standoff in the country is resolved.
Chamisa this week said he is ready for dialogue with Mnangagwa, a longtime Mugabe enforcer. The ruling party says Chamisa, who unsuccessfully challenged the election results in court and claimed victory, should accept Mnangagwa’s win before talks can commence.
The protesters delivered a petition to parliament calling for political dialogue and an end to the economic crisis, and Chamisa said he would deliver another one to southern Africa’s regional bloc.
“We are assuring them that we will not use guns to fight Mnangagwa,” he said. Associated Press
Under fire opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has hit back at former ally, Chalton Hwende, insinuating the Kuwadzana East MP was drunk when he accused him of accepting bribes from Zanu PF to ignore attempts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his term in office from 2028 to 2030.
Zimbabwe’s opposition democratic struggle today is defined less by institutions than by the illusion of opposition, a spectacle choreographed around the charisma of Nelson Chamisa.
It has been several years since Morgan Richard Tsvangirai succumbed to the cruel embrace of colon cancer in a South African hospital, yet the void he left behind has not merely remained unfilled; it has widened into a chasm.
Pakuru, as they were determined against you, so they are against me—and against all of us. But they have grown more rabid, more brazen, and entirely rogue. As you know, they beat us, falsely accused us, wrongfully imprisoned us, vilified and demonized us.
HARARE - Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa says he has spent 28 of his 48 years actively engaged in national duty, public service and what he described as citizens’ assignments, opposing oppression and dictatorship for most of his youth and adult life.
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