Zimbabwe police fire tear gas at opposition leaders

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) yesterday refused to grant permission to the 18 political parties under the auspices of the National Election Reform Agenda and the Coalition of Democrats to march in the streets of Harare, prompting the parties to approach the High Court.

Foreign diplomatic missions based in Harare called on the authorities to ensure that basic human rights and freedoms are respected during policing.

AFP correspondents saw armed police firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters gathered on the fringes of the central business district who were waiting for the march to start.

“If what the police did was to cow us from holding demonstrations, then the opposite has been the case”.

“We are urging SADC leaders to table the (security) situation in Zimbabwe at the next SADC Summit in Mbabane, Swaziland next week”.

Riot police in Zimbabwe fired teargas and used water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters as a demonstration against the 92-year-old president, Robert Mugabe, turned violent.

He said the court order specifically barred the police from interfering, distracting or stop the march in the routes that were stated.

“We have gone to the court and we are expecting a hearing anytime this evening”.

Mutasa said NERA would approach the Courts to complain about the police conduct and to be granted another opportunity to march and petition the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for reforms that will allow free and fair elections in 2018.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said they had recovered some property looted during the protests.

Obert Gutu from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change called on the Southern African Development Community to intervene against “a threat to regional peace and stability” in Zimbabwe.

“We are going next Friday to do exactly the same as we have done today”, NERA convener Didymus Mutasa said while presenting the joint press statement in Harare Friday.

ZLHR said its lawyers were attending to a group of people arrested during Friday’s protest but did not give an exact figure.

“I am personally one of the people who actually think President Mugabe must be impeached and so I am going to walk the talk”, said Maridadi.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who is now at odds with Mugabe, told reporters that 50 people were injured and admitted to the hospital.

“We can’t blame them for that and they have been whispering their anger and nobody has been giving an ear for that and this is what we are witnessing. We will be stronger together”, he said.