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Traders went through their business in Harare ignoring stayaway calls yesterday.

Herald Reporters
A two-day stayaway called by shadowy social media groups flopped dismally yesterday as peace-loving Zimbabweans went about their business as usual.

The quasi-political groups last week conflated their shutdown call with a two-day strike by civil servants and mistook the job action for support.

And in an apparent bid to escalate matters, yesterday they called for a two-day stayaway that went unheeded. A handful of white-owned shops did not open for business in Harare.

Also read:

• Mawarire: Same script, different cast

• Strike heeded, shutdown ignored

• Stayaway a flop – Statistics

• Only fools can heed Mawarire this time around

Government gave such businesses a stern warning, saying they should surrender their licences if they did not want to operate in Zimbabwe.

Business was usual at Mbare Musika as travellers load their luggage preparing for their journey to Muzarabani.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said appropriate action would be taken against such businesses.

Dr Chombo was accompanied by Ministers Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence), Kembo Mohadi (State Security), Chris Mushohwe (Information), Joseph Made (Agriculture) and deputy Home Affairs Minister Obedingwa Mguni.

Shops that did not open for business yesterday included Food Lovers Market, Nandos and KFC.

Minister Chombo said the security situation was calm.

MDC-T offices were open in Harare yesterday as the main opposition party ignored the stayaway

He applauded Zimbabweans for heeding Government’s assurance that there would be adequate security to ensure normal running of business countrywide.

“Let me on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe thank once again all peace loving Zimbabweans for taking heed of our reassurance that police will provide a safe and secure environment for them to go about their businesses,” he said.

“This was despite the concerted effort by civil and pressure groups such as #Tajamuka, Occupy Africa Unity Square and #thisflag who were pushing for the shutdown. It shows how Zimbabweans have matured and are not being pushed into engaging in unlawful activities.

“However, I am informed by the police that there were few negligible disturbances of burning of tyres which were noted in Chipinge. Police responded and managed to arrest four suspects in Chipinge.

“The law enforcement agents will continue to arrest peddlers of subversive messages and all those who are inciting violence and conducting unlawful meetings.”

Minister Chombo noted that in some cases these rogue elements were creating fake documents purported to be police statements encouraging people not to go to work.

He said investigations were underway to bring the culprits to book.

Said Minister Chombo: “In a related incident, an internal memo purportedly to be created from Econet and Delta Corporation was circulated advising workers to stay away from work.

“The workers defied these false messages and reported for work. Police have since verified with the management of these companies and also established that these messages were circulated by misguided elements.

“We also want to confirm the suspicion that we always had on the involvement of the white community to effect regime change which is part if their known agenda for quite some time. Yes, together we will overcome these challenges.”

Minister Chombo said the law would take its course on anyone found engaging in acts of sabotage, incitement and threatening members of the public against going about normal day today activities.

A survey by the Herald yesterday showed that most companies and informal markets were open going about their businesses as usual.

Informal traders who spoke to The Herald said they were there was no justification for them to stay away from work.

Mr Terrance Mombeyarara a welder at Siyaso in Mbare said: “I am my own boss here. No one should tell me when to come to work and not to come work. If I decide not to come to work it is me who makes a loss.”

A vendor, Mrs Nyaradzai Mapudzi said: ”I am hearing about this stayaway but I am not aware of its purpose. I am a single mother so I try by all means to maximise all the time that I have to fend for my two kids.”