Violence erupts in Zimbabwe’s capital after anti-Mugabe rally

Zimbabwean police fired tear gas and water cannon at opposition leaders and hundreds of demonstrators at a protest against Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF, before unrest swept across large parts of the capital Harare.

The country is experiencing an economic crisis and the government is considering the introduction of bond notes-a cash substitute-as reserves of USA dollars dwindle, raising fears of another round of hyperinflation. The government has been repeatedly forced to delay salary payments to teachers, doctors, soldiers and administrators. Civil servants, physicians and teachers haven’t been paid, and the country is facing a drought that threatens to plunge more than four million people into hunger.

The victory pose was an iconic moment, sealing President Robert Mugabe’s worst humiliation since losing an election to the opposition in 2008.

The demonstrators were demanding urgent electoral reforms ahead of 2018 polls. He denies opposition and Western charges of rigging previous elections.

Much of the recent activism has bypassed traditional opposition politicians and parties. Dubbed the “mega demonstration”, the protest was to include veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe’s former deputy, Joice Mujuru, according to organizers.

The confrontation began Monday when police in riot gear occupied the venue where protesters planned to demonstrate, and told them to leave as they arrived for the march.

“The crowd can not be accommodated in the central business district of Harare as it interrupts both human and vehicular traffic”, Saunyama said.

Meanwhile, one of the lawyers representing the Zimbabwe People First party, Gift Nyandoro, said police have refused to receive a court order granted this afternoon by a High Court judge allowing the demonstration to proceed.

Protesters want global observers to monitor the ballot in 2018, fearing it will be rigged. Zimbabwe’s police used teargas and a water cannon on Wednesday to break-up a march by MDC youth supporters who were protesting over economic mismanagement and what they say is brutality by security agencies.

Zimbabwe police fire tear gas, beat anti-Mugabe marchers was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 27, 2016 and was last updated on August 27, 2016.

Mugabe now appears weaker – physically and politically – than for many years.

“We have had enough of ZANU-PF misrule”.

The coalition said in a statement it would demand that Mugabe’s government be held accountable for failing to deal with multiple economic crises.