Traffic in Zimbabwe's capital Harare was thinner than usual on Monday morning as opposition groups and civil society organizations urged a nationwide strike against disputed constitutional amendments. The city was cautious, with a heavy police presence in several areas.
Authorities blocked the entrance to a park usually crowded with people, while water cannons were parked on open grounds used for past demonstrations.
A tense morning
By around 8:30 a.m., Harare's central business district slowly came back to life but was less busy than normal. Some shops opened while many remained closed.
Police banned protests and were prepared for any eventuality. Under Zimbabwean law, all public gatherings require police permission, a restriction opposition groups have repeatedly criticized.
As the day wore on, Harare remained calm though tensions simmered beneath the surface.
The controversy over constitutional amendments
The strike call stems from constitutional amendments passed by Zimbabwe's parliament and signed into law by the president in July. The changes move the next presidential election from 2028 to 2030 and extend both presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.
Notably, they also alter how future presidents are chosen: instead of direct popular vote, the president would be elected by parliament.
Emmerson Mnangagwa took power in 2017 after long-time leader Robert Mugabe was ousted. He won elections in 2018 and 2023, and previously was expected to step down at the end of his second term in 2028.
Opposition groups and civil society say the amendments could allow Mnangagwa to remain in power after 2028. The government defends the changes as a way to reduce political tension and create greater stability.
Debate over liberation legacy
Godfrey Gurira, a veteran of Zimbabwe's liberation war, expressed disappointment: "When we went to fight, we fought for the people. We fought for the principle of one person, one vote. That's what we want to see. We did not fight for a dynasty."
The ruling ZANU-PF party has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and rejects accusations that the amendments aim to extend Mnangagwa's time in office.
Farai Marapira, ZANU-PF's director of information and publicity, argued the changes are meant to address political tensions around the election cycle. He said: "We noticed there was a five-year electoral cycle, in which the first two years were spent disputing the previous election results, the third year was campaigning for the next poll." Marapira said the changes would reduce pre-election periods of political tension. Opposition groups counter that the amendments weaken democratic accountability.
Quiet day, unresolved dispute
The strike call did not cause widespread disruption in Harare. By afternoon, the city was returning to its usual rhythm, with shops opening, taxis operating, and traffic picking up.
However, the constitutional amendments remain a flashpoint. Opposition groups and activists are challenging the changes at the Constitutional Court, while the government continues to defend them. The dispute that put police on the streets and prompted the strike call remains unresolved.
