By A Correspondent — Vocal ZANU PF activist and self-proclaimed patriot Rutendo Benson Matinyarare was briefly arrested in Harare on Friday after allegedly flying a drone over Africa Unity Square, a site that had been heavily guarded by police amid growing fears of a national shutdown protest called by war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza.
Matinyarare, known for his fierce defence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on social media and his outspoken criticism of Western sanctions, was taken to Harare Central Police Station where he was questioned and later released.
In a video posted shortly after his release, Matinyarare downplayed reports of his arrest, claiming he had merely gone to the police station to seek permission to film near Africa Unity Square. “I wasn’t arrested,” he insisted. “The police just wanted to confirm whether I could legally record in that area, and I respected their decision.” However, witnesses said he had been temporarily detained after officers accused him of operating a drone without authorization — a serious offence in high-security zones.
Matinyarare, a former member of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement and a staunch supporter of Mnangagwa’s “patriotic narrative,” has often attacked opposition activists and Western diplomats for what he terms “anti-national propaganda.” He has also been at the forefront of defending controversial government policies, including media regulations and economic sanctions rebuttals.
Friday’s incident occurred against the backdrop of tense scenes in downtown Harare, where police in riot gear cordoned off roads leading to Africa Unity Square — now popularly referred to by activists as Itai Dzamara Square, in memory of the abducted pro-democracy activist. The show of force came in response to a planned national shutdown organized by Blessed Runesu Geza, a former ZANU PF Central Committee member and liberation war veteran.
Geza, who was expelled from the ruling party earlier this year after publicly accusing senior officials of corruption and betrayal of liberation ideals, had called for mass protests to demand President Mnangagwa’s resignation. He accused the government of economic mismanagement, authoritarianism, and looting national resources while ordinary citizens suffer.
By midday, the city centre was on lockdown, with police trucks, water cannons, and anti-riot units deployed around key government buildings and intersections. Witnesses said over ten people, most of them war veterans, were arrested near the Herald House building, adjacent to Africa Unity Square. The arrests, described by witnesses as “swift and coordinated,” appeared aimed at preventing any gatherings linked to the Geza protest.
Despite the heavy police presence and arrests, small groups of people could be seen milling around the square, while others watched cautiously from nearby shops and offices. No major clashes were reported by evening.
The developments underscore the deepening tension within ZANU PF and the broader political climate in Zimbabwe, as even loyalists like Matinyarare find themselves caught in the crossfire of an increasingly paranoid state security apparatus.
