Gambakwe provides an update on the Harare protests and the ZANU-PF conference in Mutare as of approximately 10:00 AM on October 17, 2025.
At a high level, the situation is characterized by a standstill with a significant police presence and a lack of clear direction for the protestors.
Harare Protest Update
- Police Intervention: Africa Union Square, the planned gathering point, is currently empty except for the police, who have “heavily barricaded” the area [00:41].
- Commissioner’s Arrival: The Commissioner of Police, Mutamba, personally arrived at the scene and instructed everyone to leave the gardens [00:50], [01:18].
- Protestors Waiting: People who had traveled from areas like Bulawayo and Mutare are still in the vicinity, “milling around” the Africa Square area, but have been pushed out of the main venue [01:51], [03:37].
- Lack of Command: The main issue is that no further instructions have been given by the command, referred to as “GZA,” on what the protestors should do next, where they should go, or how they should proceed [01:30], [04:15], [09:31].
- Directive: Protestors have been advised to “remain calm,” “not be violent,” and wait for the signal [03:46], [04:25].
ZANU-PF Conference Update
- Conference Stalled: The ZANU-PF annual national people’s conference in Mutare has not officially started. The delay is attributed to the unfolding crisis in Harare, with many people opting not to travel until the situation is clear [05:25], [05:41].
- Low Attendance: The venue for the conference has very few attendees, with Gambakwe noting there were fewer than 20 people in one scene, suggesting that the expected 5,000 participants have not arrived [07:35], [08:16].
- “Waiting Game”: Gambakwe concludes that everyone, including the ZANU-PF members, is playing a “waiting game” to see who will make the first move [08:59].
Gambakwe stated he would provide the next update at 2 PM if there are no significant developments before then [10:13].
