'Protests won't change Zanu-PF, block bond notes'

The escalating protests that have rocked Zimbabwe will not "change Zanu-PF's culture" nor stop government from introducing the controversial bond notes, a former staunch President Robert Mugabe supporter, Acie Lumumba, said.

This comes as Zimbabweans have taken to the streets demanding 92-year-old Mugabe's resignation.

Recently, masses protested in Harare's CBD against government's move to introduce bond notes - a currency surrogate to the United States dollar.

"...street protests are not going to stop the bond notes," Lumumba said.

"Those bond notes are the last opportunity for Zanu-PF to loot…(its) their retirement package. And the algebra is basic you print $200 million, you have four million people employed they will each withdraw $50 and the $200 million is gone," he said.

"It's time to look beyond the protests, we have to prepare and be better tactically and operationally," Lumumba said.

Lumumba - real name William Mutumanje - said he believes the game changer is everyone, particularly the youths by registering to vote in the 2018 elections.

He said youths make up the bulk of Zimbabwe's 14 million population.

"What do you do next? You start printing more and when you start printing who is counting?"

The impeding introduction of bond notes has been met by serious lack of confidence despite government's position that they will ease the obtaining cash crisis.

And the former Zanu-PF youth leader wants the same resistance to be shown in the ballot box.

"The greatest pressure and protest we can place on Zanu-PF is to vote for ourselves and not against each other. It begins with your name being on the voters' roll," Lumumba said.

"After the protests always comes one thing, the elections.  And that game my friends is played by politicians…register to vote and get your friends to do the same. Play your part.

"If you don't believe it can be done get out of the way of those of us who believe it can.

"It's only 24 months and preparation is everything. How you vote or not is what will decide if we will turn our aspirations to tangibles or whether we will aspire until we expire."