Travelling in a white Defender truck, the police fired teargas at suspected gatherings and individuals along the streets around 9pm, as prospects of mass demonstrations mount.
The main targets included Copacabana bus terminus, Corner Julius Nyerere/Robert Mugabe and Fourth Street bus terminus. Police manhandled innocent citizens in the ensuing confusion and panic.
“I have just survived a similar teargas attack at Copacabana and little did I know police would also attack people along Julius Nyerere and other places,” said a Harare sales executive on his way home from work. This reporter witnessed the incident at Julius Nyerere/ Robert Mugabe way and was affected by the teargas.
Sources at Police General Headquarters said government was in a state of panic as mass protests might cause uncontrollable civil unrest.
“We were instructed to be on high alert lest sporadic mass uprisings spring up. “Any suspicious movements and gatherings will be dealt with swiftly, as Mugabe is not taking chances with Tsvangirai’s threats,” said a top cop.
Police spokespersons Snr Ass Com Charity Charamba and Chief Sup Paul Nyathi were not picking their mobiles.
Nyathi had earlier in the morning asked The Zimbabwean to call him after two hours as he was attending his morning briefing. But his mobile then rang without response.
Douglas Mwonzora, MDC-T spokesperson, said Zanu (PF) was in a state of panic and would react violently to any suspected threat to its illegitimate government.
Mwonzora said the coming MDC-T congress would clarify the way forward on mass protests.
“As the largest opposition party we have the mandate to pressure the Zanu (PF) government into positive action. But they are ignorant of that and regard peaceful and constitutional mass actions as regime change agenda,” he said, adding that Zanu (PF) realised that it had failed as a government.
Frustration against government is mounting throughout all sectors and sections of the country, with labour, opposition parties, students’ unions and residents associations all warming up for mass protests aimed at shaking it into positive action.
Post published in: News