On Thursday, police arrested and charged 13 men for allegedly committing public violence during Wednesday’s anti-government protest during which some shops were looted and roads barricaded as anger against Mugabe’s rule escalates in the troubled southern African country.
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“The demonstration is going ahead (although) we know the police have already teargassed the venue”.
Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring the protests.
“They are fighting because of Americans”, said Mugabe.
The protest was organized by at least 18 opposition parties, as the BBC reports, and demonstrators were “calling for electoral reform ahead of polls in 2018”. However, anti-Mugabe leaders warned that this would be the first of a series of protests.
In recent months, pro-democracy campaigners have been rolling out protests nearly on a weekly basis against Mugabe’s clueless administration over worsening economic hardships, rising poverty levels, cash shortages and high unemployment. Mugabe, 92, has led Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.
Demonstrators began throwing stones at police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe.
“Protesters managed to get permission from the high court, but the police still did not let them march freely”, said Al Jazeera’s Mutasa.
“I hear they don’t want us in power and are forming these stupid coalitions but they will not succeed”, Mugabe said before leaving the country.
Most businesses shut down early on Friday fearing looting by protesters.
The move to seek court backing came a day after police violently put down another march by opposition youths, firing tear gas and water cannon and beating them as they staged a protest against police brutality.
“Opposition supporters at the capital Harare have blocked some of the main streets using anything they could find”, said Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare. The officers then fired teargas and a water cannon when parts of the crowd refused to comply, a Reuters witness reported.
Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said the force was still assessing the day’s events. “Zimbabweans are beginning to say enough is enough”, said another opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai at a press conference after the demonstration was dispersed.
Observers say the pressure on Mugabe, Africa’s oldest leader, and the ruling Zanu-PF party is enormous.
A suspected protestor lies on the ground unconscious after a confrontation with Zimbabwean Riot Police during a demonstration in Harare, Friday, Aug., 26, 2016. People’s desperation is very deep.
Opposition parties say Zimbabwe’s electoral commission is biased in favour of Zanu-PF and run by security agencies loyal to Mugabe, charges the commission denies.
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The protesters called for the 2018 elections to be supervised by global observers, including the UN.
