Masarira, also known as Traore, told Channel Africa on Tuesday that the mobilisation appears to be driven largely through social media by people outside Zimbabwe, with no visible leadership prepared to take responsibility on the ground.
Masarira said personal experience shaped the warning, after spending several months in prison following previous activism. “I’ve gone through the fire. And I stayed in prison for four to five months,” Masarira said.
According to Masarira, young people and ordinary citizens could face arrest or violence without clear legal protection or financial support. “There is no need for people to go through the same fire, go the same rigorous process whereby people end up getting arrested, people end up being beaten,” Masarira said.
Masarira said there is “no proper clarity” on the purpose of the planned protest and no leaders publicly confirming that leadership will be “from the front”.
While acknowledging that protest is a constitutional right, Masarira argued that organisers must be visible and accountable. “If these people are genuine, they must come on the ground and face the regime head-on,” Masarira said.
Masarira alleged that some individuals in the diaspora are using the planned protest to raise funds from businesspeople while promising future political or economic benefits. Masarira further alleged that some of the money is not reaching grassroots organisers. “We are dealing with people’s lives here and we need people who are willing to put their faces on the campaigning of the protest,” Masarira said.
Asked about Zimbabweans facing unemployment, inflation and a high cost of living, Masarira said public frustration is real but argued that repeated street protests have not produced results in Zimbabwe. “Protests have never worked in Zimbabwe,” Masarira said.
Masarira said previous demonstrations had led to arrests and imprisonment without achieving meaningful political change. “Why can’t we sit down and come up with a proper solution that will work and not be repeating the same strategy that is not yielding results over and over again?” Masarira said.
Masarira called for what was described as a “scientific approach”, including structured engagement with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other authorities. “Let’s put things in writing and seek for a meeting with the president,” Masarira said.
Masarira said stakeholders should present clear demands, set timelines and hold follow-up meetings to assess progress.
According to Masarira, legitimate grievances should be raised in a way that avoids endangering citizens while still pressing government to address economic and governance concerns.
–ChannelAfrica–
