Zimbabwe Streets Deserted as Mass Stayaway Shuts Down Schools, Workplaces
Zimbabwe’s cities fell silent as a nationwide stayaway protest brought daily life to a standstill, with schools closed, businesses shuttered, and public transport frozen in a dramatic display of public frustration over the country’s deepening economic crisis.
A Country on Pause
- Empty Streets: Harare and Bulawayo’s normally bustling centers were ghost towns, with only security forces patrolling key areas.
- Education Disrupted: Over 90% of public schools closed as teachers joined the protest.
- Economic Standstill: Factories, shops, and markets remained locked, costing millions in lost productivity.
What Sparked the Shutdown?
Protesters are demanding action on:
✓ Soaring inflation (officially 72%, but estimated higher)
✓ A currency in freefall, wiping out savings
✓ Crippling fuel and basic goods shortages
✓ Youth unemployment nearing 80%
Government Crackdown
Authorities dismissed the protest as “illegitimate” and deployed riot police, warning of arrests. State media ignored the stayaway, instead broadcasting normal programming.
Voices from the Ground
- A Harare street vendor: “We’re starving. Prices change hourly—how do we survive?”
- A Bulawayo teacher: “Our salaries can’t buy textbooks, let alone food.”
- An informal trader: “Today’s losses will take weeks to recover.”
The protest, the largest since 2019, signals growing desperation as economic reforms fail to deliver relief.
