Police have urged the public to ignore individuals and groups attempting to undermine peace and security in the country, including those using social media to spread alarm and create despondency among Zimbabweans.
In a statement on Thursday, March 27, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in both urban and rural areas across the country.
Nyathi called on Zimbabweans to cooperate with the deployed officers and report anyone inciting violence or disrupting the smooth flow of traffic. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
27TH MARCH 2025
THE ZRP READY TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ZIMBABWEANS
The Zimbabwe Republic Police acknowledges the peaceful environment currently obtaining in the country and urges the public to continue undertaking social and economic activities without any disturbances.
In the same vein, the Police has deployed members to maintain law and order in both urban and rural set up in all parts of the country.
The law will definitely take its course against individuals and groups who seek to undermine peace and security in the country, including those using the social media to cause alarm and despondency among Zimbabweans.
The public should therefore cooperate with the deployed police officers and report anyone inciting violence and interference with the smooth traffic flow in the country.
The public should feel free to report criminal acts and any form of public disturbance on National Complaints Desk number (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp number 0712 800197 or report at any Police Station.
</blockquote>
The ZRP statement comes just hours after fugitive former ZANU PF Central Committee member Blessed Runesu Geza released a new video reiterating calls for mass protests to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign on March 31.
Geza appeared in the YouTube video on Wednesday from an undisclosed location, wearing military fatigues and urging people “from Plumtree to Mutare, from Zambezi to Limpopo” to “flood the streets.”

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The police in Zimbabwe want people to ignore social media messages telling them to be violent and cause trouble. The police are working to keep the country safe and peaceful. They want people to report anyone encouraging violence or disrupting traffic. People should keep doing their normal activities without being scared. If they see something wrong, they can call the police to report it. The police are ready to take action against anyone trying to cause trouble. There is one person who is trying to start protests, but the police are working to stop that. People should stay calm and not listen to messages promoting violence.

ZRP Urge Zimbabweans To Ignore Social Media Incitement To Public Violence

Renowned Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga on Monday 08 May, won an appeal against her conviction for incitement to public violence.
Dangarembga was found guilty of the charge by a magistrate in September 2022 following her arrest for staging a silent protest in Harare and holding up a sign calling for reforms.
The award-winning author and filmmaker was given a ZWL$70 000 Zimbabwean dollar fine and a six-month suspended sentence.
The High Court in Harare on Monday overturned the verdict saying it was erroneously reached.
The judge said the full reasoning behind the decision would be released at a later stage.
Speaking to AFP after the ruling, Dangarembga said the verdict by the High Court “shows respect for the law of Zimbabwe,” describing her initial conviction as a “blatant miscarriage of justice.”
The Constitution of Zimbabwe, which was adopted in 2013, includes provisions protecting the rights to freedom of assembly and association, as well as the right to demonstrate peacefully.
These rights are enshrined in Section 58 of the Constitution, which states that “every person has the right to freedom of assembly and association, and the right not to assemble or associate with others.”
Additionally, Section 59 explicitly protects the right to demonstrate and petition peacefully.
The 64-year-old was arrested in July 2020 as she walked the empty streets of Harare during the coronavirus lockdown with a friend, journalist Julie Barnes, and a few other friends.
Dangarembga held a placard reading, “We want better – reform our institutions”.
She also wore a sign on her back calling for the release of a prominent journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, who had previously been arrested on similar charges of inciting violence.
Prosecutors alleged the demonstration had not been authorised and was aimed at inciting violence.
But Dangarembga argued that she spoke to no one during the walk.
Barnes, who was jointly charged with Dangarembga, was also acquitted on appeal.
Chris Mhike and Harrison Nkomo of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) got the convictions and sentence overturned by High Court Judges Justice Happias Zhou and Justice Benjamin Chikowero.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Tsitsi Dangarembga Wins Appeal Against Inciting Violence Conviction

Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) leader Jacob Ngarivhume was on Thursday convicted of incitement to public violence by a Harare magistrate.
Ngarivhume and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono were arrested in July 2020.
Speaking soon after the arrest of the duo, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Zimbabwe and Hopewell Chin’ono have been arrested in connection with allegations of Contravening Section 187(1)(a) as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act, Chapter 9:23, “incitement to participate in public violence’.
</blockquote>
Posting on Twitter this Thursay, Chin’ono said Ngarivhume will be sentenced on Friday. He said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwean politician, Jacob Ngarivhume has been convicted of incitement this afternoon at the magistrates court. He will be sentenced tomorrow.
Ngarivhume was arrested on 20 July 2020 together with myself for allegedly inciting Zimbabweans to remove the Government.
The trumped charges were mere political persecution.
My lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa chose a different route to Ngarivhume’s lawyers by challenging the charges in the High Court where they were thrown out and labeled bogus.
</blockquote>
Ngarivhume was granted bail by High Court judge Justice Musithu in September after spending 43 days in remand prison.
He has been an outspoken critic of the Government and has called for greater democracy and accountability in Zimbabwe.
In August 2021, Ngarivhume was briefly arrested by police officers from Matapi Police Station in Mbare who then held two trucks that were to be used for clean-up campaign in the suburb.
Incitement to public violence is defined as the act of urging, encouraging, or advocating for the use of violence by members of the public against other individuals or groups. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The Government has been accused of using the charge of incitement to public violence to suppress dissent and opposition.
Several political activists, journalists, and other individuals who speak out against the ruling party or its policies have been arrested and charged with incitement to public violence.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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