At a demonstration organised by Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, 23 people needed hospital treatment, seven were arrested and four were, as of Monday, missing, feared abducted by Zanu (PF) operatives. The missing were named as Moses Mutasa from Hatfield, Tinei Tinarwo from Glen Norah, Mr Ncube from Dzivarasekwa and Adam Muchiriri from Hatfield.
More than 200 ROHR activists brought business to a standstill for an hour as they marched to the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), the venue for this week’s SADC meeting.
Police in full riot gear fired teargas into the crowd, causing stampedes and confusion in the crowded city.
Around 12:00 hours, our members reported that one person was abducted by suspected Zanu (PF) operatives along Robert Mugabe road, who used an unmarked Zanu (PF) Nissan double cab truck, said a statement from ROHR. The other three were abducted by youths in a Nissan single cab truck believed to be owned by Elliot Manyika, the Zanu (PF) political commissar.
Women protest suffering
Dozens of women activists were arrested in the city on Monday, as they protested the suffering caused by the severe economic crisis.
Riot police broke up the demonstration of more than 300 women from the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe outside a hotel, where southern African leaders were meeting to discuss Zimbabwe’s political impasse.
At least 11 women were treated for injuries after being beaten by the police and 47 women were arrested, according to the organisation.
Police pounce on students
Police also arrested 50 students in a march by the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (ZINASU).
Zinasu President Clever Bere said, despite the violent reaction by the police, their demands still stood.
“The behaviour by the police is unacceptable because our demands are just and legitimate, said Bere.
The students carried placards that read our future is at stake’ and we demand food for the starving’.
Before the students could deliver their message to the negotiating teams from Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations, the police pounced and made the arrests. – BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT