HARARE – Zimbabwe’s main opposition MDC party succumbed on Friday to pressure from what it labelled a fascist government, calling off a street protest as armed police set up roadblocks and barred access to its Harare offices.
Police and armed soldiers searched buses, taxis and private vehicles at checkpoints and randomly asking for identity documents.
More than a hundred opposition supporters chanted party slogans and sang near a square in central Harare where protesters had been set to assemble but were chased away by baton-wielding police.
One woman was taken to hospital by ambulance after sustaining a deep gush on her heard.
Police also blocked roads to the MDC headquarters.
Most businesses, including banks, were closed as workers stayed at home.
Anger is mounting as Zimbabweans grapple with soaring inflation, rolling power cuts and shortages of US dollars, fuel and bread.
More sights of police brutality.
The world is watching!#Zimbabwe@euinzim @UKinZimbabwe @NLinZimbabwe @foreignoffice @AsstSecStateAF @usembassyharare @amnesty @AmnestySARO @_AfricanUnion @PoliceZimbabwe @InfoMinZW pic.twitter.com/FvM8btKbRk
— TeamPachedu (@PacheduZW) August 16, 2019
Tyranny in the streets of Harare.@euinzim @UKinZimbabwe @NLinZimbabwe @foreignoffice @AsstSecStateAF @usembassyharare @amnesty @AmnestySARO @_AfricanUnion pic.twitter.com/XrxMncPBbv
— TeamPachedu (@PacheduZW) August 16, 2019
Protesters were sitting down peacefully.
Look at what happened next!#Zimbabwe@euinzim @UKinZimbabwe @NLinZimbabwe @foreignoffice @AsstSecStateAF @usembassyharare @amnesty @AmnestySARO @_AfricanUnion @PoliceZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/y2ZNoWypij
— TeamPachedu (@PacheduZW) August 16, 2019