Police commander for the Harare Central District, Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama, told protest organizers in a letter on Thursday that they could present a petition at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission without marching, adding that the expected number of participants, 150,000, was too big.
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Many people going about their daily chores, including journalists covering the chaos and children who were going to the nearby Harare Agricultural Show, were caught up in the resultant mayhem, as the mad-as-hell riot police pursued and savaged anything and everything on two legs.
They are angry at a faltering economy, cash shortages and high unemployment – and it was one of the worst outbreaks of violence since food riots in 1998. Opposition head Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president Joice Mujuru fled the rally in their cars while protesters ran for cover as…
A woman lifts her hands as police confront protestors during a demonstration in Harare, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016.
Demonstrators then began throwing stones at police while some set tyres ablaze and others pulled down the sign for a street named after Mugabe.
But even if the court doesn’t rule in favour of the march, it will still go ahead, Movement for Democratic Change Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora said.
“Even demonstrations meant to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence”, the embassy said in a nod to ugly clashes with riot police that broke out during a march by youths from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Wednesday. Some have taken positions at the headquarters of the main opposition MDC-T party. The people’s desperation is very deep.
Witnesses said people seeking refuge at the Harare Magistrates’ Court were teargassed.
Mugabe, who regularly appears in public, has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980.
In a statement yesterday, the United States embassy in Harare said it supported freedom of speech and assembly and urged the government “to exhibit restraint and respect the human rights of all Zimbabwean citizens, including those basic rights”.
Friday’s skirmishes were an escalation from Wednesday’s violence when police clashed with opposition youths protesting police brutality.
“They have told us to deliver the court order at their offices; we have done so but they continue to beat up people”.
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On its part, the Australian embassy said it shared the “concerns of many Zimbabweans at the violence, which has occurred over recent weeks in Zimbabwe”.
