Tshabangu is not the story. He has no power as an individual. He is projecting the monopolistic power of the state. No one would have been able to stop him without firing a gun. We are lying to each other that citizens would have stopped him. The state has power.
If it were that easy, ZAPU and ZANU wouldn't have been banned by the Rhodies in 1962 & 64 respectively. When the state decides to use its resources to destroy opposition, there is nothing you can do that doesn't involve force.
ZANU PF is known to use small proxies to destroy and humiliate. Do you remember when Tsvangirai realized his blunder on Locadia Karimatsenga? Some obscure Chief Negomo was given prominence just so a score could be settled. It doesn't mean Negomo had any legitimate power, he was tortoise on a post.
We need to study how other movements survived even in the face of relentless state pressure.