HARARE - Zimbabwe's main opposition party
called off planned anti-government demonstrations on Friday,
saying it aimed to avert bloodshed after police rounded up its
followers and dispersed them with batons and water cannon.
The Movement for Democratic Change, which accuses President
Emmerson Mnangagwa's government of repression and economic
mismanagement, had called a demonstration for Friday as the
start of a nationwide protest movement.
But police announced on Thursday that the protest would be
banned, and an MDC court appeal to have the ban lifted failed.
Police patrolled the usually bustling city centre in lorries and
on foot, firing tear gas to disperse any groups that attempted
to gather as most shops and business shut.
Around 100 MDC supporters who gathered early were chased by
baton-wielding officers from a city square. Armed police barred
access to the MDC's Harare offices.
"Today we didn't want to risk people's lives by continuing
to be confrontational because if we had chosen to be
confrontational there will be blood in the streets," Nelson
Chamisa, the MDC leader, told reporters in Harare.
"We will continue to mobilise but what you are going to see
is a mutation of our strategy because when you are facing a
confrontational regime you must also use tactics that are going
to be above them," he said, without elaborating.
Police said in a statement that 91 people were arrested for
various offences. "The police is firm on the ground to ensure
that law and order is maintained," the statement read.
Outside the court that rejected the appeal to lift the ban
on protesting, MDC Vice President Tendai Biti said: "The
constitution guarantees the right to demonstration ... yet this
fascist regime has denied and proscribed this right."
"We have jumped from the frying pan into the fire after the
(anti-Mugabe) coup of November 2017... We don't accept the
conduct of this regime, the conduct of Mr Mnangagwa."
ECONOMIC CRISIS
Anger is mounting over triple-digit inflation, rolling power
cuts and shortages of U.S. dollars, fuel and bread - bringing
back memories of the hyperinflation of a decade ago that forced
Zimbabwe to ditch its currency.
In a letter to church leaders published on Friday in the
state-owned Herald newspaper, Mnangagwa said the economic
hardship had its roots in sanctions imposed by the West more
than a decade ago as well as a drought this year.
He also said Chamisa had rejected his invitation to talks.
The MDC leader has said he sit down only if there is a neutral
arbiter.
"The doors of national dialogue are still open to all
political leaders," Mnangagwa said.
In Geneva, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights
commissioner urged the government to engage with citizens on
legitimate economic grievances and "stop cracking down on
peaceful protesters."
The demonstrations are viewed as a test of Mnangagwa's
willingness to tolerate dissent in a country tainted by a long
history of repression under Mugabe, its ruler for nearly 40
years. Opponents say Mnangagwa has failed to make good on
promises of political and economic reform.
The economy is mired in its worst crisis in a decade, and
Mnangagwa is struggling to convince the growing ranks of poor
that austerity measures and reforms can trigger a recovery.
Zimbabweans had also expected an election last year to help
usher in a new dawn of expanded rights and an end to the
country's international pariah status, but so far society has
only become more polarised.
In January, more than a dozen people died during a crackdown
in Harare against fuel demonstrations.
In the days before Friday's planned demonstration, six
political activists were abducted from their homes at night and
beaten by armed men, rights groups said.
On Friday, police and soldiers searched buses, taxis and
private vehicles at checkpoints and demanded identity documents.
One woman was taken to hospital with a deep gash on her head
after police charged at MDC supporters.
"We are tired, enough is enough," MDC member Patience Gurure
said moments before police dispersed her group.