French envoy visits Harare protestors

Some of the activists protesting in Harare

The envoy however denied his visit was aimed at showing solidarity with the protest.

The 16-day demonstration hit day eight on Wednesday at the square made famous by abducted political activist Itai Dzamara who is still missing after being seized by suspected government agents in March last year.

Prior to his abduction, Dzamara had protested in the square, demanding the resignation of President Robert Mugabe who has run the country since independence in 1980.

The latest anti-government protest started last Tuesday and activists, who claim that they were assaulted by the state agents, said ambassador Delahousse visited them on Monday.

“Yes, the Ambassador was here with us and wanted to know how we are keeping considering news of the assault and threats from government security agents.

“He indicated that he is in solidarity with our protest,” said Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) secretary general Makomborero Haruziviishe.

Contacted for comment, ambassador Delahousse confirmed visiting the square twice but insisted that this had nothing to do with the protest.

“As a Diplomat, I am not involved in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe and I was in Unity Square just accompanying a friend from France,” the envoy told NewZimbabwe.com.

“I met people that I know in the Park and of course, greeted them. I have nothing to do with the people demonstrating in the park.”

He added: “I speak to all political parties and also parliamentarians because I am supposed to engage everyone as a diplomat.”

Meanwhile, Haruziviishe said the situation in the park is “very tense with state security agents planted all over the Square”.

Anti-Privatisation Forum activist, Tatenda Mombeyarara, said the increased presence of state security agents “only encourages the occupants” who are demanding that government address the country’s economic crisis, among a host of other grievances.