Yes we did it! come on! - the brave man who asked Mugabe to take a rest

We occupied Africa Unity Square today, yet again forced the state to respond, and, yet again, demonstrated our goodwill by agreeing to negotiate.

We are the people! We are the numbers! And, we are on course.

Up to 50 people made themselves available and openly grouped with us as we occupied the square, starting from around 09:00 hrs today. It was amazing, heart-rending and humbling. One man, Roleen Gandiwa, travelled from Kwekwe early in the morning to be with us. I met and knew him today for the very first time. Another one, Chicco Siziba, travelled from Luis Tritchard in South Africa yesterday, and joined the historic moment. I also met and got to know him for the first time.

Indeed, these are true testimonies and the people shall tell their own stories. These and others, genuinely and with enough commitment, embraced the idea and plan. They went the step further to making a representation at the square. Unbelievable, how dreams really become true.

Police had deployed almost 70 members in heavy riot gear.

Around 11:00 hrs, police got wind of the fact that over 100 people scattered around the square had come for the mission of waiting for the response from President Robert Mugabe, to the demands for him to admit failure, step down and pave way for a process towards finding a new national plan for governance and leadership. I no longer call it 'my demands', because, officially, over 100 other Zimbabweans turned up to express their agreement and solidarity with 'our demands'.

The police had fears that we would embark on a demonstration or march from the square. Then police decided to clear the square, and, indeed, they chased everyone out.

We had a group of about 35 of us who were gathered together at a particular spot and were resolved to resist being chased away. When they got to where we were gathered, one of the police officers ordered us to leave. I responded, 'We are not leaving because we are waiting for something.'

The police officer quickly understood and retorted, 'Asi ndimi vaita kuti tuwunzwe pano (Are you the group that has caused our massive deployment).' We said we were the group and he queried, 'Saka Itai wacho ndeupi (So who is Itai among you?)' I identified myself and he said, 'So you do not want to leave? Okay we are coming back to you.'

The police teams went around clearing all the people in the park, including others that had indicated to be part of our sit-in but were not gathered together with us.

After that, the whole battalion of the police team descended to our gathering. A few overzealous and youngish among them contemplated launching brutal assaults on our group right away. We quickly requested to see the head of the team, and up-stepped Inspector Ganyiwa, a mature woman, who later proved to be quite understanding and reasonable.

Ganyiwa put an immediate condition, that she wanted to talk with only myself, and ordered others to move away. My colleagues initially tried to refuse and insisted they wanted to remain with me.

We eventually agreed and they moved a few metres away. I presented my position to Ganyiwa, that we were doing what we informed police about and therefore would not leave. She made a request. 'Look may you understand that today, we have been instructed to clear the park and not allow anyone here.'

I stood my ground about having the right and purpose to be there, having handed over the petition to Mugabe and informed police and Mugabe as well, that we would be waiting for the response at the square.

Ganyiwa then resorted to a technicality. She asked for the police's response to my letter of informing them. I told them they never responded either verbally or in writing. She claimed there was a requirement for me to have a written response, which I continued to deny because that is not what the constitution says.

Ganyiwa then suggested that our group had to go to Harare Central Police station's Law and Order department, where Detective Inspector Murira had earlier, around 08:15 hours, phoned from, requesting to meet me. Ganyiwa suggested that the meeting was meant to deal with the technical issues she had raised. I agreed, and, together with my colleagues, went to the police station. About 15 brave Zimbabweans accompanied me all the way to Law and Order department.

We commenced, yet again, the processes we went through on Friday. The Law and Order department took its turn to record anything and everything about me. We went into the discussions about my mission. Once again, I thoroughly articulated my main purpose – to have Mugabe stop fiddling or ignoring the worsening national crisis and treat it as a matter of urgency, on the basis of admitting that his government has failed.

The discussions were largely very cordial and underlined by genuine respect and caution on the part of the police, in engaging and handling me.

Inevitably, we came to the crux of the matter, the state's discomfort and uncertainty over 'Occupy Africa Unity Square'. Yet again, police officers openly requested and begged me to call off the plan. Yet again, they admitted that there was nothing wrong or illegal about our mission and all plans since I submitted the petition. Yet again, they raised concerns and arguments about deductive or presumptive similarities between my plan and what happened in Arab countries. I made my counter arguments and denied any link or intention to imitate that. I challenged the police officials to assess everything I, together with my colleagues, had done since the first day, and find any slightest hint of such intentions. Automatically, there is none. So, case was won again on that.

I took the opportunity to state to the police that I was actually proud that our group was demonstrating our commitment and ability to conduct ourselves in a civil, peaceful and resolute manner. We had scooped it, at the square and all the way to the police station. Eventually and after about 3 hours of these processes and engagements, a direct question was thrown at me, 'So, Dzamara what are going to do? Are you going back to Africa Unity Square?'

I responded by saying that, indeed, I would resume tomorrow, together with my colleagues. Our lawyer asserted the constitutional position that the police must not respond to our notification for it to become of effect or valid, adding that we had done enough in notifying them.

Therefore, we made it clear to Law and Order department that we are continuing with our occupation and sit-in at the square tomorrow, until we get the urgent response we are demanding from Mugabe.

For the record the police officers duly concluded by taking note of that position and letting us go.

Three important points: Zimbabweans, numbering over 100 came out to express their demand for Mugabe's response, and I have no doubt that they represented millions sharing the same desires. That means one important fact - this mission can only stop after what we want is provided. Once again, there is simply no reason why Mugabe must not take heed and respond to this demand, unless he wants us to conclude that he does not care about both the national crisis, and serious effect it has on the majority of Zimbabweans.

Secondly, yet again, it became clear that the state has taken note of our position and mission. The state is responding, today in the manner outlined here. However, and I made it clear to those that handled us today, we want progress, which can only come through Mugabe and his government responding, clearly and tangibly.

We have patiently done enough to engage the departments of President's Office, Police Internal Security and Law and Order, as well as cooperated in our deliberations and discussions. We now want the state to respond through Mugabe and his government, because that is where the matter exists.

We shall continue cooperating with the state departments and agents as and whenever they want, but shall make it clear to them that, if there are any negotiations over our demand, we must now engage Mugabe or a government representative.

Lastly, today we demonstrated to many other Zimbabweans, that, yes, indeed, and after all, it can be done. Those that came to the square will bear testimony to the fact that history has been made. We occupied and created circumstances that forced the state to clear the place. I am reiterating at every opportunity to the state agents, that there is nothing to fear on their part.

Our desire is that the state realizes now that, it does not have to continue clearing the square, but must find a way for us to get what we want – a response to our demands from Mugabe and his government.

Tomorrow we are going back to wait for the response, and I am sure more Zimbabweans are ready to join and express their urgent need for that response.

We will continue to make important communications about tomorrow.