President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that he holds the leaders of the coalition MDC Alliance responsible for the violence which took place today. The president also said that he holds them responsible for the loss of life which may have occured. One person was confirmed to have died after the army deployed into the city centre and fired live bullets at protesters. In a statement, Mnangagwa said,
We hold the MDC Alliance and its whole leadership responsible for this disturbance of national peace which was meant to disrupt the electoral process. And equally, we hold the party and its leadership responsible for any loss of life, injury or damage to property that arise from these acts of political violence which they have aided and abetted. The Alliance and its leadership has (sic) forthwith to remove its violent supporters from the streets so that peace returns to our country. In asking them to take this necessary step, government is simply reminding them of their duties as the responsible political players and as citizens. In any electoral process, it is understood that some win awhile other lose. However, those whose lose should never translate their disappointment into hooliganism.
Update:
The number of dead people has now been confirmed as three by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
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