Police have reportedly instructed street-side tyre vendors in Harare to move their stock from makeshift stalls ahead of planned demonstrations on March 31, 2025.
According to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/street-tyre-traders-ordered-to-remove-stockpiles-fearing-they-could-be-burnt-to-barricade-roads-during-planned-march-31-protests/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>, state security agencies, including the police and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), are on high alert ahead of the protests.
Tyre vendors in Kambuzuma claimed that they had been directed to relocate their tyres by the police.
This follows reports that bars in Chitungwiza have also been asked to close earlier than usual for similar precautionary measures. Said a vendor:
<blockquote>
We have been told to move most of our tyres from stalls and keep them away from them by the police.
They are now doing rounds raiding anyone who has not taken the tyres off their stalls as March 31 approaches. The fear, as told by one of the officers, is that protestors will take and burn them.
</blockquote>
Tyres are commonly used to block roads during protests, as seen in previous demonstrations such as those on August 1, 2018, and January 2019.
In Zengeza 2, Chitungwiza, some bar employees reported being instructed to close between 8 pm and 9 pm, with one operator referring to it as an “illegal curfew.”
The looming protests have been called for by some war veterans led by Blessed “Bombshell” Geza. They are demanding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation.

Pindula News

Police in Harare are telling street-side tyre vendors to move their tyres before March 31 to prevent protestors from using them to block roads. The police are worried about planned demonstrations, so they want the tyres out of sight. Bars in Chitungwiza are also closing early as a precaution. Tyres have been used in past protests to block roads. Some war veterans are calling for the president's resignation, leading to these upcoming protests. Police are taking measures to prevent any disruptions during this time.

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