A Paranoid President and a ghost town

Sinqobile Tessa
DESERTED: Some of Bulawayo’s streets on Tuesday

No explanation was given as the authorities remained mum over the decision to effectively close down Bulawayo.

As well all know, President Emmerson Mnangagwa rose to power through a coup. He seems terrified that history will repeat itself, this time with him on the receiving end.

So paranoid is the President that last week, the Home Affairs Minister, flanked by security chiefs, convened a press conference to deny the possibility of a coup.

But as we all know, there is no smoke without fire.

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This is not the first time whispers of a coup have rustled through the country. However, it is the first time for the authorities to address it.

Only time will tell if the lightning that struck the late former President, Robert Mugabe in November 2017 will strike our current leader as well.

The President is fully aware that he has dismally failed this nation, which somehow had high hopes when he came into power.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing the worst economic crisis in a decade, with inflation now running close to 1, 000 percent.

Probably with his fears in mind, President Mnangagwa on Monday ‘forced’ the country into a national day of prayer and fasting.

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In the past, the day has been marked without any hullabaloo. But this time around, people were turned back from getting into the central business districts, told to go home, fast and pray for the country’s economic revival.

Funny, if not bizarre and even slightly sinister to think they can force people to pray.

Yes, we are suffering but we cannot be forced to pray for this regime. Instead, as many highlighted on social media, our prayers are for God to deliver us from Zanu PF, maybe a new ruling party will take us to the promised land.

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Having been forced to go home and pray, on Tuesday, Bulawayo residents were in for another surprise when they woke up to massive roadblocks on major roads leading to the CBD, manned by soldiers and the police who told them no one was allowed into the city centre.

Those who had managed to get into town early, most probably to queue in banks, were also forced to go back home.

No explanation was given as the authorities remained mum over the decision to effectively close down Bulawayo.

As in any situation, when there is no proper explanation, people then come up with theories with some saying this was just the beginning of more shutdowns as the government tries to contain the possibility of an uprising.

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