Can protests lead to political change in Zimbabwe?

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, was the scene of demonstrations on July 16. Hundreds of women demonstrated against President Mugabe's government by beating pots, symbolizing a nation facing starvation and economic hardships. "What we are saying here is we are putting more fire on a pot that is already boiling. We want that pot to boil until Mugabe goes," they chanted in the streets.

Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean pastor, started #ThisFlag campaign in April 2016. He demanded that President Robert Mugabe fire corrupt cabinet ministers and scrap plans to introduce local bank notes. On July 6, Mawarire called for a nationwide shutdown of the country,in protest of economic hardships. Most Zimbabweans stayed home while foreign banks and most businesses in the capital stayed closed.

July 4, minibus drivers and others held their own protest against police harassment. Many were young men who can't find regular employment and make a living off drivers by charging a small fee to load passengers into minibuses. The drivers' grievances stemed from anger over numerous roadblocks that police set up in city streets which drivers alleged were to demand bribes.

Pressure has been mounting on President Mugabe to step aside amid a crisis that threatens to plunge the country into a further economic abyss. Anger is rising over high unemployment, corruption in government and shortages of money, which has seen people spending hours in bank queues to withdraw their money. Not more than $50 (45 Euros) can be withdrawn from Automated Teller Machines (ATMS) daily.

The vsibly frail Robert Mugabe has in the past unleashed his brutal security forces to crack down on any public show of dissent during his 36 years in power. He has remained defiant amid all the economic woes that Zimbabwe is going through. With strained relations with the west, his Asian allies like China and Singapore are not willing to offer much needed aid.

Zimbabwe’s coffers are virtually empty. Hyper inflation aggravated by a drought has further crippled the country’s economy. Little help has come from the West due to sanctions on the country’s top leadership because of vote rigging and human rights abuses. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also froze its support in 1999 after Zimbabwe defaulted on loans.

Without being able to secure any foreign credit Zimbabwe is seeking to clear $1.8 billion in arrears to the IMF, the African Development Bank and the World Bank in a bid to unlock new funding. Mugabe's government needs to resolve issues of governance, accountability, transparency and carry out economic reforms before these financial institutions ca issue further credit.

Once the breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe is a shadow of itself. With poor harvests and a prolonged drought, more protests are expected in the coming days to highlight the issue of unemployment among university graduates. In the last presidential campaign, Mugabe promised two million jobs for graduates. Until now that promise has not been fulfilled.