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ShutDownZimbabwe failed resoundingly yesterday as businesses operated as normal and people went about doing their activities.
After riding on the civil servants’ strike last week, yesterday was a time for ShutDownZimbabwe’s advocates to demonstrate the popularity of their message among the masses. What we saw was a reiteration of the fact that the lobby by Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag and Promise Mkwananzi of #Tajamuka has no traction among the masses. Therefore, what some have noted as the success of last week’s shutdown cannot be really attributed to Mawarire or Mkwananzi’s online mischief, but a genuine protest by civil servants who were pressing their employer to pay them their salaries.
The shutdown was supposed to begin yesterday, ending today, a protest against corruption in government circles and the prevailing economic challenges. In the news over the past few weeks, the strike was being marketed as a social movement against the government, ordinary people voicing what is said to be their collective anger at the economic situation. It is evident though that the opposition provides the motive power behind as well as the usual western missions.
It was meant to be part of a series of protests that would only stop when Zanu-PF falls but like other opposition campaigns before it, it failed.
We have no qualms with citizens expressing their anger at anything in the country, like civil servants did last week. We have no problem with people demonstrating against their government, any organisation or individual in this country. It is their constitutional right to express themselves, as long as they do so peacefully and in terms of the law.
However, we have a problem when long-standing efforts to effect illegal regime change are advanced most sinisterly under the cover of social expression against the prevailing challenges.
The government and ordinary Zimbabweans were happy that the shutdown failed yesterday.
It was business as usual in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Mutare, Gwanda and Victoria Falls.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo addressed journalists in Harare yesterday to thank the people for refusing to engage in the protest. He, however, had no kind words for the few white-owned businesses that heeded the strike call. Some of the shops that did not open for business yesterday included Food Lovers’ Market, Nandos and KFC in Harare.
At the Press conference also attended by Ministers Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence), Kembo Mohadi (State Security), Chris Mushohwe (Information), Joseph Made (Agriculture) and deputy Home Affairs Minister Obedingwa Mguni, Dr Chombo said the security situation was calm countrywide.
“Let me on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe thank once again all peace loving Zimbabweans for taking heed of our reassurance that police will provide a safe and secure environment for them to go about their businesses,” he said.
“This was despite the concerted effort by civil and pressure groups such as #Tajamuka, Occupy Africa Unity Square and #ThisFlag who were pushing for the shutdown. It shows how Zimbabweans have matured and are not being pushed into engaging in unlawful activities.
“However, I am informed by the police that there were few negligible disturbances of burning of tyres which were noted in Chipinge. Police responded and managed to arrest four suspects in Chipinge.
“The law enforcement agents will continue to arrest peddlers of subversive messages and all those who are inciting violence and conducting unlawful meetings.”
Minister Chombo noted that in some cases these rogue elements were creating fake documents purported to be police statements encouraging people not to go to work.
Two documents circulated yesterday and were said to have been official documents written Econet and Delta Corporation advising workers to stay away from work.
“The workers defied these false messages and reported for work. Police have since verified with the management of these companies and also established that these messages were circulated by misguided elements,” Dr Chombo said.
The failure of Mawarire and Mkwananzi’s campaign asserts the limitations of using social media as a tool for political activism in the country. Activists might entertain themselves on WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter thinking that they can move the country in a certain way, but the real world is different. They only have support among the elite who communicate on social media.
Social media may have worked elsewhere but in Zimbabwe it may not work. We are reminded of MDC leader, Professor Welshman Ncube’s online campaign in the run-up to the July 2013 elections, and his puerile conclusion that his so-called popularity on social media meant he had a chance to do well in the poll. The result for him was a massive electoral loss. Mawarire and Mkwananzi need to have a viable cause first and second, develop better methods to achieve it. Their sponsors, France Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Laurent Delahousse his US counterpart US Ambassador Mr Harry Thomas need to do likewise.
Online Reporter