Harare: A heavy police presence in Zimbabwe’s capital stopped a planned mass demonstration against veteran President Robert Mugabe from going forward Saturday, as activists claimed police used live ammunition to disperse small protests in the suburbs,
A coalition of opposition parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) had planned countrywide demonstrations demanding reform ahead of the 2018 election, when 92-year-old Mugabe plans to stand again.
But a monthlong protest ban and a massive police deployment in Harare saw the event fizzle out before it started.
However, activists charged the police with intimidation, making arrests and firing against small groups demonstrating in the suburbs.
“The response of the government … has been very worrisome. They have used live ammunition in areas including Kuwadzana, Dzirasekwa, Mufakose and Kambuzuma,” said Jacob Ngarivhume, whose political party Transform Zimbabwe is part of Nera, at a press conference.
“We have over 100 people who have been arrested so far.”
The police declined to comment on the claims.
The activists also alleged that several people were abducted on the eve of the protest.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said residents were told not to participate in the protest.
“The people were threatened by police and people in plainclothes. They were told, ‘We will beat you up and you will disappear if you embark in the demonstrations’,” said MDC spokesman Obert Gutu.
Police last week had issued an order barring protests in the capital.
Campaigners said they would challenge the ban through the courts, which had overturned a similar order earlier this month.
Mugabe has vowed a crackdown on dissent and blasted judges for “reckless” rulings allowing previous demonstrations.
But in the second city of Bulawayo, close to a thousand protesters staged a peaceful march on Saturday after a high court ruling gave them permission to take to the streets.
Police stood by with armoured vehicles and water cannons.
“All we are demanding is that we want a free, fair and credible election,” MDC deputy president Thokozani Khupe told the crowd.
“We are drawing a line in the sand and we are saying never again will we allow an election to be held where elections will be rigged.”
Mugabe’s ZANU PF party won the last general elections in 2013, which were marred by electoral fraud.
Opposition to the ageing leader’s 36-year rule has grown in recent months with a surge of public demonstrations, triggered by an economic crisis that has left banks short of cash and the government struggling to pay its workers.
Mugabe has often used brutal force to silence his opponents and warned the protesters last week they were “playing a dangerous game”.
Unemployment is about 90 per cent in Zimbabwe, which has been in the grips of a cash shortage worsened by a severe regional drought.
Nera has promised more demonstrations in the coming weeks until the government gives in to their demands.
— AFP
