Zimbabwe explodes with riots
Nationwide protest spurred by massive petrol price hike turns country into war zone
THE time bomb that has been ticking in Zimbabwe for months finally exploded yesterday.
Armed police fired live ammunition on protesters demonstrating against the escalating economic crisis aggravated by a massive fuel hike.
The price increase announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the weekend sparked scenes similar to the protests against the Robert Mugabe government in 2016/17.
Mnangagwa just happened to be on a trip to Russia and other former Soviet countries, ahead of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
On Saturday, he announced prices would triple to $3.11 (R42.98) a litre for diesel and $3.31 a litre for petrol.
The shooting of two people in an impoverished area outside the capital Harare came moments after the city resembled a war zone as protesters ran riot, burning tyres, used stones to barricade roads and blocked public transport from carrying passengers.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called a three-day work stay away, weeks after similar action by medical doctors and industrial action that ground education to a halt last week.
Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights at the time of going to print said it had attended to two cases of bullet wounds in the Makoni area in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town 30km south-east of Harare.
“Zimbabwe police should urgently investigate as fuel protests turn violent in Harare,” said Dewa Mavhinga, southern Africa director of the Human Rights Watch Africa division.
There were similar scenes in the second city of Bulawayo as protesters overpowered police in the usual quiet city. Roads into the city centre were barricaded and youths burnt tyres.
Police fired tear gas to disperse angry protesters.
“Police commissioner general Godwin Matanga has put the Zimbabwe Republic Police on high alert and will ensure that the law is applied without fear or favour on anyone who incites or engages in any form of violence and unsanctioned gathering,” said Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema.
Six people were killed when armed forces fired live ammunition on demonstrators protesting the handling of the general elections in August last year.
The Elders organisation expressed alarm at reports of growing unrest and intimidation across the country.
“Government has a responsibility to manage the economy in a just and efficient way, and must listen to voices of civil society so crisis can be resolved peacefully,” stated the group of elder statesmen, peace activists and human rights advocates, who were brought together by Nelson Mandela.
The wave of protests sweeping through the country looked likely to upset government efforts to mend relations with the West.
Earlier, government threatened to expel some foreign diplomatic missions and international NGOs for allegedly influencing the strikes to perpetuate their so-called regime change agenda in Zimbabwe.
The US and Germany were reportedly targeted.
“Government will not hesitate to take action against such persons by withdrawing their visas, deporting them and declaring them persona non grata, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, said.
There were no immediate responses from US and German embassies in Harare.
Meanwhile, Fastjet cancelled all its flights to the capital as the protests gripped Harare.
The International Cross-Border Traders Association (ICTA) also said it had withdrawn all buses travelling to different parts of Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries.
“We have withdrawn all buses. There will be no loading of buses till further notice,” said president Denis Juru.
ICTA earlier issued a warning advising its members and travellers in and around Zimbabwe “to avoid Zimbabwean borders and unnecessary movements”.
“There’s a stay-away under way in Zimbabwe that we need to assess as an association if it is safe for travellers to embark on to their cross-border trips,” said Juru.
“Stay away and be safe. Further information is available at our website.”