#AriseZimbabwe

MUGABE MUST GO: For the first time in nearly 40 years, Zimbabweans from all around the country gathered en masse without fear of violence from the police or reprisal. What brought them together, after a tense week in which the military took over key governmental buildings in the capital, was the demand for long time ruler President Robert Mugabe to step down. Thousands of people gathered at the Highfields Sports Grounds just outside of the capital, while more gathered in Harare, demanding that Mugabe resign. People were jubilant and celebrated “the dawn of a new Zimbabwe”, waving flags as crowds started arriving in cars, buses and on the back of trucks. Lawrence Mashiri, a resident from Harare, called the day Zimbabwe's second independence. “We are happy today. This is our independence,” he said. “People say we got our independence in 1980, but that's not true. We are gaining our independence today,” Mashiri said. “It's time for the old man to go. Him and all his cockroaches must go,” he said. Photo: Nampa/AFP