Zimbabwe police deploy to block protests over extension of president’s rule
Police deployed heavily in Zimbabwe’s capital and other cities on Monday to block protests against plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule.
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Police deployed heavily in Zimbabwe’s capital and other cities on Monday, largely neutralizing a call by veterans for massive protests against plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule.
Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party said in January it wanted to extend Mnangagwa’s term in office by two years until 2030. Mnangagwa, who first came to power in 2017 after his long-term mentor Robert Mugabe was ousted in a coup, is serving his final term.
Independence war veterans led by Blessed Geza previously supported Mnangagwa but have turned against him, accusing him of seeking to cling to power.
Anticipating possible unrest, businesses barricaded their premises and car dealerships cleared their showrooms in recent days.
Most businesses, schools and vendors across the capital, Harare, as well as in the second-largest city of Bulawayo and other towns, stayed closed, as large numbers of police officers patrolled the empty streets.
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