The People of Zimbabwe saw a ray of independence and democracy after a long subjection to Robert Mugabe rule. The crisis is not yet over, it all started by the currency crisis now it is getting overboard.
Several people were killed and some 200 arrested during protests in Zimbabwe on Monday, the government said, two days after it raised the price of fuel in an attempt to tame the worst economic crisis in a decade.
Police fired tear gas in the capital Harare and second city Bulawayo where protesters barricaded roads, burned tyres and chanted songs against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who put up fuel prices in the hope of easing a currency shortage.
Zimbabwean citizen carry a coffin with a young man shot dead by the soldiiers in harare Zimbabwe. ED gvt will continue ti kill unarmed civilians @nelsonchamisa @hwende @vanhuva @TalithaDube1 @JeffFlake @Hannah61804866 @MakomboreroH @nickmangwana pic.twitter.com/oZ6PWYzVE8
— karikoga gumiremuseve (@gumiremuseve) January 15, 2019
Security minister Owen Ncube said some people died at the protests, but gave no further details. He blamed the unrest on the main opposition party and political rights groups.
“Regrettably, this has resulted in the loss of life and property, including injury to police officers and members of the public. Full investigations are underway,” Ncube said in a statement.
The Human Rights Forum, a collective of local groups, said it had received reports that five people had sustained gunshot wounds. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said its Harare headquarters was torched late on Monday but the fire had been put out. It did not say who was behind the attack.
Yesterday Zimbabwe experienced acts of terrorism. We send our condolences to those that fell victim to the terrorists and lost loved ones. Govt would like to assure the public that these will face justice. Today Zimbabwe is working again. Public order has been restored pic.twitter.com/rxXt4nvjvT
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) January 15, 2019
The authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of post-election violence in August in which six people were killed after the army intervened.
Riot police patrolled downtown Harare as army helicopters circled above. Businesses closed early and schools called parents to pick their children, fearing violence.
The main labour union called for a three-day stay-at-home strike starting Monday and central Harare was deserted by 4 p.m. Commuters walked home from the city centre because there was no public transport.
“I am stranded in town now and I have no idea how I am going to go home,” resident Leeroy Kabanga told Reuters.
Airline Fastjet cancelled its remaining flights to and from Zimbabwe on Monday due to the unrest.