The Zimbabwe Republic Police have announced that they have since arrested 91 people for participating in the opposition MDC demonstrations on 16 August 2019.
The demonstrations had been banned by the police and the ban was also upheld by the High Court.
The police argued that they issued a prohibition order after gathering evidence enough to suggest that the demonstrations would degenerate into chaos.
The police also announced on ZBC that participation in the demonstration was an offence.
The MDC was adamant that the demonstrations, a constitutional right, were going to be peaceful. To prove that, they sat in the streets on the day of the demo and were unarmed as they.
Despite that, the police which had unsanctioned the demonstrations descended heavily on protesters forcing them to disperse and eventually call off the protests. Speaking on arrests, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
Some of the youths went on to engage in confrontational acts which included threats, intimidation and disruption of the smooth flow of traffic in the CBD. The police moved in and dispersed the unlawful gathering. In the process, 91 people were arrested for various offences in Chitungwiza, Harare central business district and Harare South.
The MDC in a notice to the Police dated 5 August 2019 had indicated, and still maintain that the demonstrations are motivated by a number of ills including corruption, unemployment, power and fuel shortages, cash shortages, lack of “genuine political reforms”, and politicisation and abuse of food aid which are prevalent in the country.
The opposition party attributes all the socio-economic issues to the deep-rooted and institutionalised corruption in the country and also to the illegitimacy of the ruling party.
Chamisa claims that he won the 2018 elections but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission connived with the ruling ZANU PF and gave victory to now President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
More: The Herald
It is a sad day for democracy when innocent civilians cannot voice their protest against the economic ills in the country. And the so-called solutions being offered by the government are doing nothing to alleviate the ills. Withdrawal of one’s own money from the bank is still limited to once a week; it is still limited to $100 at best depending on the bank. Since it has been readily admitted by the Reserve Bank governor that the bond $ is not on par with the US $, this limit to should been increased to at least $800. One could then at least do some shopping. But of course, there aren’t enough bond dollars to go around. Where are they? Where are the $ 4M bond dollars that were promised? If they ever saw the light of day they are in the hands of those openly trading on the streets of major cities. Are who are they a front for?