National Shutdown: A Call for Chaos, Not Progress

By Chiyedzo Josiah Dimbo

In the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence Day celebrations, when the nation is meant to reflect on its hard-won sovereignty and look forward with hope, Blessed Geza’s call for a national shutdown strikes as not only ill-timed—but dangerous. His actions, which mirror a calculated attempt to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle, have drawn fierce criticism from respected voices, including businessman and community leader Jimayi Muduvuri.

“Geza is heartless. His call, coming immediately after Independence Day, reflects a characterless individual pushing a personal agenda, not national interest,” said Muduvuri. He compared Geza’s disruptive antics to those of Afonso Dhlakama, the Mozambican opposition leader whose actions destabilized peace and progress for years in neighboring Mozambique.

Indeed, the comparison is not far-fetched. Geza’s recent behavior suggests that he is positioning himself as a political actor at any cost—even if that cost is national peace and economic stability. “In his wildest dreams, he imagines himself as the next Vice President of Zimbabwe,” Muduvuri remarked, dismissing the ambition as delusional and disconnected from the people’s reality.

The timing of the shutdown call is particularly telling. Zimbabwe has just hosted a successful Independence celebrations. The global community, including the United States, has extended congratulatory messages in recognition of Zimbabwe’s 45 years of independence. At a time when the focus should be on rebuilding the economy, advancing infrastructure, and uniting behind Vision 2030, Geza is pushing a narrative of destruction.

This is not the voice of a patriot. It is the noise of a man sweetened by greed, power hunger, and the desire to perpetuate the suffering of the Zimbabwean people for personal gain. His call is not rooted in solutions—it is rooted in sabotage.

Zimbabweans must not be swayed by such reckless calls. As Muduvuri aptly put it, “We must ignore the barking mad dog and continue working towards a better Zimbabwe.” The real task before us is to fulfill Vision 2030, as outlined by His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa—building a prosperous, upper-middle-income economy where the dreams of ordinary citizens are realized through peace, productivity, and unity.

The future of Zimbabwe does not lie in shutdowns or street anarchy. It lies in work, in stability, and in unwavering belief in our national destiny. Geza’s agenda is not Zimbabwe’s agenda. Let us rise above noise and recommit ourselves to the vision of a better, stronger Zimbabwe.