Zimbabwe police fire teargas to disperse protest

HARARE: Zimbabwe police on Wednesday fired teargas and water cannon and beat up opposition activists protesting against police brutality, witnesses said.

According to an AFP photographer at the scene, around 200 supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC) clashed with police who tried to stop the march.

“Violence broke out when people retaliated to police beatings by throwing stones at riot police,” said an eyewitness who did not want to be named.

“I saw police beating protesters and firing teargas and water canons.”

An AFP photographer saw two police cars being torched.

Another car belonging to the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, was also burned.

Police in Zimbabwe often use force to break up protests, beating up civilians and journalists covering demonstrations.

On Wednesday, one journalist was injured after being beaten up by police.

Zimbabwe has seen an increase in violent protests over the past weeks, with demonstrators calling on veteran President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has overseen an economic collapse that has caused food and cash shortages, with the country battling to pay public servants. — AFP