Zimbabwe police have used batons, tear gas and water cannons against anti-government protesters, despite a court order that police should not interfere with the demonstration in the capital Harare.
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More than 200 youths from the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), took to the streets two days before a planned march by all opposition parties to try to force President Robert Mugabe to implement electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 vote.
Zimbabwe’s High Court was due to rule early on Friday as to whether the march could go ahead, but Zimbabwean police and government politicians warned protesters to stay away.
He noted that Zimbabwe had see months of protests against alleged human rights abuses and the deterioration of the economy under the 92-year-old president, who had ruled Zimbabwe since 1980.
She added: “These are all indications that the rule of Robert Mugabe may be coming to an end”. Most of all, more and more Zimbabweans are saying they’re exhausted of the man who got them to this place, the man who has ruled the country for more than 35 years: President Mugabe. Gathered crowds were shot at with teargas and water cannons. They are accused of burning property, attacking police officers and looting shops.
Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo on Thursday called opposition leaders “foreign agents” using protests to cause chaos in order to justify global intervention in Zimbabwe’s affairs.
Members of the protest group said they are not afraid of threats by some Zanu PF youth who have vowed to crush protestst in Zimbabwe.
Judge Hlekani Mwayera of the High Court of Zimbabwe had authorized the march, which called for electoral reforms.
“More shocking is that heavily armed police officers have also blocked people from attending the bail hearing of 75 citizens who were illegally arrested on Friday in central Harare”, said PDP’s Mafume.
Protesters want global observers to monitor the ballot in 2018, fearing it will be rigged. They are also calling for Mugabe to fire corrupt ministers.
The latest demonstrations come almost two months after the biggest large scale “stay at home” strike in Zimbabwe since 2007, inspired by social media movements such as #ThisFlag led by pastor Evan Mawarire.
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Police did not answer VOA’s requests for comment Friday, but Zimbabwe’s home affairs minister, Ignatius Chombo, said the night before that police “would not watch foreign-funded protesters destroy Zimbabwe”.
