Anti-President Robert Mugabe protesters, who were released from prison last Friday, are back in the Africa Unity Square where they are continuing with their protest.
The success of their initial protest was compromised by internal bickering a result of power struggles and competition for resources, further compounded by police action in arresting key activists. It is still to be seen whether this time round the activists most of whom earn a living this way, will set their differences aside and attract more numbers and public approval to their cause.
The activists who include Itai Dzamara’s brother, Patson, said they will continue with the protest until President Robert Mugabe resigns.
The group’s spokesperson Linda Masarira, said they will be assembling in the park from between 5 pm to 6 pm daily.
“In undertaking our struggle, the #5to6 sessions will continue to be our flagship campaign and we will be rolling it out in the coming weeks across the country,” said Musarira.
“The #5to6 programme is an action by young people and the oppressed members of our society both politically and economically, to reclaim their future by occupying the public spaces, be it parks, streets or squares in their areas, and utilising it for constructive dialogue on political and socio-economic issues”.
The group which was staging a 16 day protest against government in the early hours of 9 June 2016 was raided by the police who accused five of them of robbing some two women who were passing by the park.
The authorities arrested all of them (15) and charged them with robbery and obstruction of justice.
They were arraigned before the courts where they were granted $1000 bail each.