The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has distanced itself from the mass protests planned by some disgruntled war veterans on 31 March. ZIMTA has said teachers should report for work as usual, since the day is a normal working day.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/unsanctioned-protests-reckless-retrogressive/">The Herald</a>, ZIMTA Secretary-General Goodwill Taderera said teachers do not take part in unauthorised protests. Instead, they use the National Joint Negotiating Council platform to express their concerns. Said Taderera:
<blockquote>
We have totally nothing to do with that. We are not a political party. We are law-abiding citizens. If we have our issues, we know where to go. 
We know that we discuss through the National Joint Negotiating Council. And if we have any issues, that’s where we direct them.
Monday is a working day so our teachers will be at work. We have no instructions to make our teachers not to go to work. They should just report for duty. It’s a normal day as far as we are concerned.
</blockquote>
Blessed Geza, a former ZANU-PF Central Committee member and war veteran, has called for mass protests on March 31 to demand the resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. 
Geza accuses Mnangagwa’s government of corruption, economic mismanagement, and cronyism, which he claims have led to poverty and hardship in Zimbabwe.
Geza’s call for protests has gained attention, especially after his dramatic return to social media, where he urged Zimbabweans to join what he called an “unstoppable wave” of demonstrations. 
He has also invited opposition leaders to join the movement, though some have distanced themselves from his call.
In response, the government has deployed anti-riot police across the country and placed security forces on high alert, showing the seriousness with which it is treating the situation.

Pindula News

ZIMTA, a teachers' association, says teachers should work on March 31, not join protests by war veterans. They use a different platform to express concerns. War veteran Blessed Geza wants protests for President Mnangagwa to resign due to corruption and poverty in Zimbabwe. Some opposition leaders are invited, but government is prepared with police and security forces. Teachers should work as usual and not join unauthorized protests, says ZIMTA.

ZIMTA: Teachers Should Work As Usual On March 31

<h2>STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY</h2>
The Government of Zimbabwe notes with deep concern the mobilisation efforts, through social media postings, pseudo press statements and letters by criminally-inclined individuals and groups inciting peace-loving Zimbabweans to engage in unlawful gatherings that interfere with public order.
The illegal acts being mobilised undermine the prevailing security, peace and stability. The retrogressive intents should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Those fronting the mobilisation should stand warned.
Their self-seeking, subversive and anti-development endeavours have been exposed. May I reiterate that we have a Constitutional mandate to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of this country and we will not apologize to fulfill that mandate.
May I take this opportunity, therefore, to assure the nation and all our visitors that the country’s security services are on high alert to ensure the sustained safety and security of the public.
Zimbabweans and our visitors should, therefore, feel secure and continue engaging in their usual socio-economic pursuits.
The Zimbabwean Republic Police has made adequate deployments to guarantee an environment conducive to socio-economic development and unhindered movement of people in all parts of the country.
May I also remind the public of the need to abide by the provisions of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 24, which is categorical on the maintenance of public order.
Equally, I need not emphasize that we are all expected to remain guided by the provisions of Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Section 164 of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act on offences relating to electronic communications and materials.
The relevant instruments would be invoked to deal with those who unlawfully engage in transmitting, broadcasting and distributing data messages to any person, group of persons or to the public with intent to incite acts of violence against any persons or to cause damage to any property.
May I, once again, reiterate that anyone who tries to intimidate, threaten, harass or coerce the public to engage in criminal acts will certainly face the full wrath of the law. The Commissioner General of Police will apply the law to its fullest without fear or favour.
In the same vein, I would like to encourage the peace-loving and patriotic citizenry to report anyone who incites violence and causes public despondency through the listed contact details:
<ul>
<li>Harare Emergency Response Centre Toll Free 911 or 112</li>
<li>Harare Operations (0242) 748836 or 777651</li>
<li>Harare Central Police (0242) 777777, 777592/4/6/8, 777626</li>
<li>Bulawayo Emergency Response Centre Toll Free 112, 911</li>
<li>Bulawayo Operations (0292) 273547 or 883930</li>
<li>National complaints desk (0242) 703631</li>
<li>Police General Headquarters WhatsApp 0712 800 197</li>
</ul>
The police commits and undertakes to respond to such reports without delay.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to implore Zimbabweans to continue abiding by the law to effectively contribute towards the country’s attainment of an upper-middle-income economy status by 2030.
I thank you
Kazembe Kazembe (MP) 
Honorable Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage 
Government of Zimbabwe

The Minister of Home Affairs in Zimbabwe is warning people about criminals trying to make trouble. They are telling people to stay safe and not join unlawful gatherings. The police are ready to keep everyone safe and make sure people follow the law. If anyone tries to cause trouble, they will face the consequences. The Minister is asking citizens to report any signs of violence or trouble. People are encouraged to keep following the law to help the country grow and be safe. Be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.

Kazembe Addresses The Country's Security Situation [Full Statement]

Zimbabweans have been warned to be wary of being used in the ZANU PF succession battle, which may spill into the streets after some former party members called for mass protests on March 31.
Political observers believe ordinary Zimbabweans were exploited during the so-called military-assisted transition in 2017, with only a few individuals benefiting from Robert Mugabe’s ouster while the general population was marginalised.
The removal of Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe from the helm of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) on Tuesday, and expelled former ZANU PF Central Committee member Blessed “Bombshell” Geza’s outbursts on social media on Wednesday, have been seen as escalating ZANU PF factional infighting.
The NewsHawks reported that a state security official dealing with the current situation, including the planned March 31 protests, said that people may be the biggest losers again in the latest round of the ZANU PF succession battle.
The official, who was not named for professional and security reasons, is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
This is an internal ZANU PF matter, with legitimate public interest. The question is, who benefits from these protests?
The November 2017 coup, which led to the ousting of President Robert Mugabe, was initially celebrated by many Zimbabweans who thronged the streets, seeing it as a chance for change and a break from Mugabe’s authoritarian rule and economic woes.
However, as time has shown, the coup ultimately benefited the military and the ruling elite only, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe ally, taking power.
The promised reforms and improvements in the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans have been slow to materialise, and many have been left feeling disappointed and disillusioned.
Now, with the looming protests on March 31, there are concerns that history might repeat itself, and the people might again be the losers.
The demonstrations, which are being driven by widespread discontent with the government’s handling of the economy and corruption, might provide an opportunity for the military or other opportunistic, powerful interests to exploit the situation and further entrench their power.
It’s a worrying scenario, and one that underscores the need for Zimbabweans to remain vigilant and ensure that people are the main beneficiaries of whatever demonstrations or transition or change in leadership is driven by the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than the interests of the powerful and elite.
The planned street protests in Zimbabwe on March 31 have sparked concerns that they might be exploited by the army as a pretext to seize power.
Given this context, the planned protests on March 31 could be a volatile situation, and it’s essential to monitor the developments closely, ask who is behind this, what their agenda is and who will benefit.
It is important to ask these questions before people rush into the streets to fight wars they don’t understand and know their origins.
</blockquote>
Geza, a former Sanyati MP and ZANU PF Central Committee member, claims that individuals close to Mnangagwa are looting the country for personal gain, while the majority of Zimbabweans continue to suffer in extreme poverty.
However, top security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concerns to The NewsHawks about the “real motive” behind the loud calls to oust Mnangagwa.
They warned that the situation resembles the empty “Mugabe must go” slogan from the past, lacking a clear plan for what would follow or how to secure the people’s interests.
The security officials also voiced concern over the country being swept into an internal ZANU PF issue, without clarifying how such a shift would improve the living conditions and material well-being of the people. Said the official:
<blockquote>
Who benefits from this? That question must be asked upfront, not later. Yes, Geza has tried to seize the moment and opportunity of socio-economic disgruntlement around the country to fuel and incite anger against Mnangagwa’s government, but do you think people benefit from this? Ordinary people don’t seem enthusiastic about street protests and may just stay away. 
It is because they don’t trust the process and don’t want to be used again, as happened in 2017.
While the disgruntled war veterans have gained a lot of popularity and traction with Geza’s incessant attacks, that whole cabal, fronting some wounded interests and comrades, has made some strategic blunders by revealing why they want regime change.
It is all about themselves, not the people. They are fighting for their time to eat. It might be difficult to mobilise the people for March 31. Yes, people are suffering, but they don’t want to be used. That is clear. 
The situation is made worse by the fact that people like popular opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and those within his latent structures are not involved in this.
In our assessment, based on the current situation and past experiences, Zimbabweans are not only wiser-after they were used, shortchanged and abandoned in 2017-but also contextual and discerning.
</blockquote>

Zimbabweans are warned to be careful during the ZANU PF struggle for power. Some want marches on March 31, but it may not be good for ordinary people. In the past, only a few people benefited when Mugabe was removed in 2017. Now, with more protests, the same thing could happen again. Some powerful people may take advantage of the situation to gain more power. It's important for Zimbabweans to be cautious and make sure marches benefit them, not just the elite. They need to think carefully before joining any protests.

March 31 Protests: Zimbabweans Warned Against Being Exploited In ZANU PF Succession Battle

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has warned the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa against mass action to force ZANU PF to the negotiating table, saying such a move will have dire consequences for the party and its leader.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Charamba urged Chamisa to negotiate with Sengezo Tshabangu claiming the latter is willing to be engaged “at least for now”.
Tshabangu is a CCC activist who declared himself the party’s interim secretary general in October this year and has since recalled scores of CCC representing thereby whittling down opposition numbers in Parliament.
Charamba warned that if Chamisa believes that “mass protests will have takers, will last and will soften ZANU PF to the table, he needs to be reminded who he is dealing with”.
He seemed to be suggesting that the State’s security establishment will ruthlessly crush any mass protests organised by CCC. Said Charamba:
<blockquote>
I have been reading stories on Chamisa’s so-called CNA meeting which took place yesterday. Among statements, which purport to be resolutions, released after the meeting, coupled with subsequent interviews with the media, Triple C, it would appear, is toying with the idea of mass action, ostensibly to “force ZANU PF to the negotiating table”!
… A key principle in politics is understanding your customer; there is no clue anyone in Triple C, least of all Chamisa, works with this elementary political principle which informs what does and cannot do. Politics is the art of the possible.
</blockquote>
The Government deployed the military in central Harare on 1 August 2018 to crush suspected MDC Alliance supporters who were protesting against an alleged delay in releasing election results. At least six people were shot dead whilst fleeing from the soldiers.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Charamba Warns Chamisa Mass Action Will Have Dire Consequences

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ol36zprt_yA?feature=oembed" title="How has Zimbabwe changed under Mnangagwa?" width="640"></iframe></div>
A Sky News video report questions the change that the governments “new dispensation” has brought to Zimbabwe. It focuses on the alleged <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/06/06/watch-artuz-president-obert-masaraure-speaks-from-hospital/">abduction and torture of teacher union leader Obert Masaraure in June.</a>
Masaraure, who is interviewed in the video breaks down as he narrates his torture by the state agents.

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