Police battle rioters in Zimbabwe’s capital

Police in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, have used tear gas and water cannons to break up a protest by minibus drivers.

The first sign of impending trouble came early this morning, with reports that commuter MINIbus drivers had stopped ferrying passengers from the Ruwa area, east of the capital, into Harare.

The drivers’ grievances stem from anger over numerous roadblocks that police sometimes set up in city streets, which drivers allege are to demand bribes.

Rocks were strewn across at least one road and there are unverified claims that vehicles have been stoned.

Elsewhere, various movements were ramping up their push for Zimbabweans to stay away from work on Wednesday to protest the worsening situation in the country.

There has been a public outcry in recent weeks against the heavy presence of police on the roads, forcing the police to announce that it would reduce the roadblocks. They also brought in police dogs.

Such brazen acts of defiance and clashes with the police are not common in Zimbabwe, although the government deployed the army against 1998 riots over soaring food prices.

In the last month, amid rising unrest over economic woes, Zimbabwe has witnessed spontaneous protests against government corruption, shortage of money and government plans to circulate local bank notes.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa, Muleya Mwananyanda, said: “The deplorable use of force by the police against protesters amounts to human rights violations under the country’s global and domestic laws”.

At the Beitbridge border post, protests continue over Zimbabwe’s new regulation to ban various imports. “The government says it will pay them on 14 July for their June salaries” he said.

The finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, has pleaded with western countries to unlock financing for Zimbabwe in the form of loans that were halted close to two decades ago.

Some recent political protests have been notable for their brazenness.