Streets empty as Zimbabwe economy fails

SCORES of people were arrested yesterday in Zimbabwe as hundreds of troops were deployed to assist police attempts to thwart an anti-government protest, with streets empty and many people hiding indoors.

Organisers said demonstrators originally planned to protest at alleged government corruption but instead targeted the ruling political party, using the hashtag Zanupfmustgo.

Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as the economy implodes. Inflation is more than 700 per cent, the second highest in the world. Now the coronavirus pandemic is burdening threadbare health system.

Police arrested dozens of people who tried to hold low-key protests, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said. They included Tsitsi Dangarembga, a prominent author, and Fadzayi Mahere, spokeswoman of the main opposition MDC Alliance party.

Charges against them were not yet clear, the lawyers said.

Separately, three activists – Joana Mamobe, Marova Netsai and Cecillia Chimbiri – and their lawyer were detained on their way to court, according to the organisation. The three allege they were abducted and sexually tortured by “state agents” in May after being arrested for protesting.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president, has described the planned protest as “an insurrection to overthrow our democratically elected government”. He warned that security agents “will be vigilant and on high alert”.

Speaking at the burial yesterday of a cabinet minister who died from Covid-19, Mr Mnangagwa did not directly refer to the protest but called for unity and urged Zimbabweans to shun violence. The normally teeming downtown of Harare, the capital, was deserted as soldiers and police patrolled and manned checkpoints.