We asked our email subscribers to answer the following question with us:
The #MunhuWeseMuRoad #NoToBondNotes Demo ‘Flopped’ because . . .
We got A Lot of answers including:
A. I wasn’t there – too busy, too poor, too fearful (28)
B. The police were there (4)
C. Poor organisation (12)
D. I don’t believe that demos change anything (18)
E. I was in the Diaspora (6)
- Too fearful and poor organization – other than media reports no information was given by organisers – like meeting point time and who will be leading us on the day I mean high profile figure. – Admire
- We are scared of the brutality that could be unleashed by our leaders. Soldier presence in Harare is also High, at fuel stations and in the general public. Police presence too is also a tool of a dictatorship not a democratic gvt. – Gwanz
- The #MunhuWeseMuRoad #NoToBondNotes demo flopped because I was not there. I am afraid of the police and I did not want to be caught protesting with only a handful of people which was a high probability because in my opinion, it was poorly organised. I am also ashamed that I feel that way; even if most of the country feels that way too. It’s a selfish position because I still think this is about me and right now only. – Amanda
- Demos have proven not effective… it’s who we are as Zimbabweans. Docile, peaceful, conscious of our responsibilities and would not want to die for anyone and for a cause that will benefit the majority. We are too individualistic, we think of ourselves so much that we don’t care that the person next door has had no food for the past week. It’s not in us as Zimbos to feel for each other. So long as I’m having enough on my table and my family is fine, I would have nothing to do with demos. That’s our nature. Thus, the powers that be understand this and so demos will never work in Zimbabwe, much as the powers that be are really afraid of these demos as shown in the time and resources they place in blocking these demos. – Munya
- We are not allowed to say our minds. Communication has been made about bond notes with reasons but no one listens to us Zimbabweans.
- People are suffering . . . there is no money in banks . . . there is liquidity crunch that is causing a lot of problems. Hence there is no need to demonstrate knowing that it never produced any fruitful results. Actually the best thing right now is to embrace the bond note and see where it will take us.
- People did not turnout for protest against bond notes because they believe government is playing mind games with its citizens. Government does not have money to print bond notes. They keep announcing so as to scare people who do cross-border trading. Hence they control imports of goods. No one wants to buy bulk of goods with all his hard cash and sell those goods for bond notes. – Edmond
- The answer is poor organization on the part of the organizers who fail to understand [1] The strengths and weaknesses of their perceived opponents [2] community outreach strategies [3] when to have the demos [4] Continuity plans i.e. if option A fails what do we do [5] and lastly the cost benefit analysis from the general public is not clearly articulated
- It’s high time to mobilize and organize. The leaders must go to the people. Incorporate the masses and strategies. Preach the revolutionary message to the young peoples, the commoner, students and the tutored. And education on demonstrations and security must be intensified. – Danmore
- I was there by 08:30 to pray discreetly for the demo. Joined by friends abt 30 mins later. The presence of police, plain clothed spies was very scary. I left at around 11am. I understand fellow Christians were arrested about an hour later. Fear makes these demos fail. People have not yet overcome their fear. – Angie
- The #MunhuWeseMuRoad #NoToBondNotes Demo Flopped because . . . you announced it and police was on high alert. You do not announce such demos in Harare or Zim they will be ready for you. Mobilise silently get teams ready silently – Tapiwa
- You need to understand that a protest does not amount to much unless it has a strong backing. Politics is about money, nothing else, so if you’re not bringing money or taking money, others much attention will be paid to the noise you create. – Maku
- Zimbabwe population has become too poor and polarized to take action.We being abused even at work by administrators and cant act for our own rights. Those with power has rendered the majority….useless. At 70yrs, you wud wish your parents were alive to protect you kikiki yaaaaaa. – Francis
- It is in my humble opinion still that some elements behind the protests in Zimbabwe are rather self-serving individuals who have an appetite for the camera and attention. From whatever angle one may look at, it is an undeniable reality that the numbers have failed to grow and are not convincing at all to mount pressure on President Robert Mugabe to relinquish power. – Blessing
- Studying out of the country. Wish I was there to support. Fellow Zimbabweans don’t get tired. Come out in numbers. Eventually the mountain shall be moved. – Pauline
- Of course I got into town for the demo but I noticed that most people do not want to participate because of fear of victimization but the wicked police officers. It is of critical importance for us to establish organisers who will be responsible to ensuring that communication reaches all the four corners of Zimbabwe in the way intended. We are at a time when unity matters most. Now is the time to make real the promises of our democracy. – Perseverance
- I was participating in a solidarity march in South Africa, a space where there is freedom of expression. Perhaps I should have marched in the streets of Harare today. I could be a coward, chosing to take action in a zone where it’s permissible to do so. – Hillary
- I went to the road in neighbourhood, nothing. Went into town, a water cannon right where we thought a good demo might start, city hall. So, nope I changed my mind and went tp the bank queue instead. – Sammy
- These demos have become sort of elitist, belonging to the few people who want to be seen as THE “face” of the struggle. They are forgetting the ordinary man and woman who make up the numbers. They should make the ordinary person want to be part of this and have ownership. This movement is slowly or rather fastly slowly turning into a social club for wanna be struggle owners who want to be remembered in history. – Portia
- Poor organisation is why l didn’t go. Some where saying people meet at AU square, some where saying Cleveland House. Tajamuka who were initially organising it pulled out. So it seemed not well coordinated. – Nyasha