Blessed Geza Calls for Indefinite Stay-Away as Zimbabwe Shutdown Escalates
Controversial war veterans’ leader Blessed “Bombshell” Geza has thrown Zimbabwe into further uncertainty after declaring that the planned two-day stay-away protest has now become indefinite. The outspoken political activist said Zimbabweans must continue to stay away from work, schools, businesses, and public life until President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is removed from power.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in Geza’s strategy following the failed 31 March street protests and the initial call for a shutdown on 22 and 23 April 2025. Instead of a short-lived demonstration, Geza now says the country must grind to a complete and indefinite halt.
“The Country Must Stop Until the Government Falls”
According to Geza, the indefinite shutdown is the only remaining peaceful method for Zimbabweans to express their frustration with the ruling ZANU-PF government. He instructed workers, teachers, transport operators, vendors, and business owners to withdraw their labour and stay home until the regime collapses.
He said that the indefinite shutdown would show the world that Zimbabweans had lost confidence in Mnangagwa’s leadership. In his message, Geza insisted that shops should remain closed, public transport should stay off the roads, and schools and industries must not open their doors. The country, he argued, must stop functioning entirely to force political change.
Geza believes the government is now attempting to consolidate power by illegally extending the president’s term of office. He alleged that Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Attorney General Virginia Mabhiza, and Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda were spearheading plans to push Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030 without a constitutional referendum. He claimed the government would try to offer term extensions to MPs as a way to buy their silence and support.
In response to these claims, Geza made it clear that the stay-away would continue without interruption until a new administration takes over.
Shift in Tactics After Failed March Protest
Following the arrest of over 100 activists during the March demonstrations, Geza has turned to civil disobedience rather than street protests. He explained that peaceful resistance through non-participation was now the only safe way to protest in Zimbabwe, where the security forces have been accused of using brutal methods to shut down opposition.
He argued that the judiciary, Parliament, and the police have all been captured by the executive, making traditional protest methods ineffective. In his view, by staying indoors and refusing to participate in the economy, Zimbabweans could cripple the state without putting themselves in harm’s way.
Geza, who is still on the run from police, said the authorities could not arrest people for choosing to stay at home. He believes that by shutting down the country’s daily operations, Zimbabweans would paralyse the system and highlight the failure of leadership without lifting a single placard.
He acknowledged the risk and hardship that comes with an indefinite shutdown, particularly for those in the informal sector. However, he urged the population to make short-term sacrifices for long-term change, saying Zimbabweans could no longer afford to wait.
Zimbabwe Divided Over Shutdown Plans
The reaction from the public has been mixed. While some have shown support for the indefinite stay-away, calling it a powerful act of resistance, others expressed concern that such a strategy would worsen the economic crisis for ordinary people. Many Zimbabweans earn a living through informal trade and casual labour, and staying at home indefinitely could result in massive hunger and suffering.
Some have proposed more strategic action, such as regular stay-aways once a week to build momentum without collapsing livelihoods. Others have warned that the government may respond with heavy-handed tactics if the protest starts to affect the flow of money or public perception.
Despite this, Geza appears unmoved and determined. He has doubled down on his demands, stating that the only acceptable outcome is the complete removal of Mnangagwa and his allies from power. Until that happens, he says Zimbabwe must remain silent, ungovernable, and immobile.
The government has not officially responded to Geza’s latest threats, but security forces are expected to be on high alert starting Monday, 22 April 2025, when the shutdown is set to begin.
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The post Geza Drops Bombshell: Says Zimbabweans Must Stay Away INDEFINITELY Until Government Changes appeared first on iHarare News.
