Group Plans Week-Long Protests Against President Mugabe

Harare - Zimbabwe’s radical social movement, Tajamuka/Sesijikile has called a five-day anti-government protest over the socio-economic crisis which has crippled the Southern African nation.

Tajamuka/Sesijikile leaders said the 5-day national shutdown will see its activists engaging in non-violent protests against grinding poverty, cash shortages, high unemployment among other ills facing the nation.

Last year, the social movement called a similar national shutdown, that resulted in running battles between anti -riot police and protesters. Several protesters were arrested, while others were left nursing injuries. A toddler was also tear-gassed to death in Zimbabwe’s second city, Bulawayo during the protests.

Police have vowed to descend heavily on any street protesters during the five day anti- government protest.

President Robert Mugabe has refused to step down despite mounting calls to step aside over old age and ill health.

Below is the full statement:

Tajamuka/Sesjikile Champaign

Dear Citizen

Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign calls on you as a citizen of Zimbabwe to join with us in staging a National Week of Peaceful Action and Non-Violent Resistance from 20-25 June 2017.

We urge you to take some form of peaceful action against whatever issues you are unhappy about. The forms of actions can be anything that you decide is peaceful and appropriate for your locality to resist the abuse that we face on a daily basis.

These actions could include things such as:

1. Sharing a video of yourself:
2. expressing your grievances and demanding that they be addressed by the relevant Government authority
3. calling other citizens to join you in standing up for our rights
4. Posting photos of uncollected refuse, potholes, etc to expose failures of governance

3.Taking and sharing videos exposing Government corruption and abuse such as:

1. police harassment at road blocks, such as threatening to impound your car which is illegal
2. police throwing spikes at vehicles which is illegal
3. Writing a letter or a petition to a government authority (e.g. city/town council, Govt Ministry) about anything you’re unhappy with
4. Refusing to pay a bribe or spot fine at road blocks and demanding that the police give you the Form 265 (or take down your details) so you can pay within 7 days, as the law allows.
5. Addressing bank queues or requesting the bank manager to come and explain why you’re unable to access your hard-earned money
6. Chasing away bogus debt collectors sent by your city council/ZESA to collect money for services never rendered
7. For those in the diaspora, demanding your constitutional right to vote in 2018 from the country where you’re resident

These are just but examples of the forms of peaceful action that you can take. We encourage citizens to get creative and think about any other way to register your anger at the manner that the Government of Zimbabwe has reduced you to second-class citizens in your own country.

This is a significant week for all of us as citizens and patriots of this country to show our courage, sacrifice and love for our country and the future of our children.

For too long we have been labelled as cowards by our neighbours and other countries. This is the time to peacefully show our courage and resilience and that as citizens of Zimbabwe we will do everything permissible in a democratic society to show the government that we are dismayed at their corruption, ineptitude, greed, and arrogance.

We have suffered enough in silence. It’s time to use the power of our numbers to bring the government to account and listen to our grievances.

From the 20th to the 25th of June 2017, we are going to act together as citizens in peace and utmost goodwill to show President Mugabe and his government that things are not well in the country.

You don’t have to travel to anywhere or to gather at any specific point, you can act from where you are within your locality. When we act individually in multiple places, and we remain peaceful and obey the law, its much harder for the State to crackdown using POSA or any of their draconian laws.

This is the call to you and me. We can’t let down our country. We can’t let down our children. Let’s act together on this historic week.

In the coming days, you are going to receive updates on the progress of our plans as we approach the National Week of Peaceful Action and Non-Violent Resistance. We will share with you our letters to various organs of government notifying them of this lawful, peaceful and totally legitimate national action. We will also share with you WhatsApp numbers where you as a citizen can contribute your ideas towards making these peaceful actions a resounding success.

Tajamuka/Sesjikile