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Zimbabweans Claim Police Brutality During Economic Protests

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Zimbabweans defied a police ban Friday and held demonstrations
   to protest the country's deteriorating economy.

   Despite the High Court ban on planned protests, members of the Movement
   for Democratic Change took to the streets and clashed with police. Some
   of the injured accused police of derailing protests, which they said
   were meant to persuade President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government to
   breathe life into Zimbabwe's moribund economy.

   With tears on her cheeks, 32-year-old Tafadzwa Bvuta said her degree
   had not helped her get anything for her three children.

   "They beat us up," she said of the police. "What have we done? All
   these security forces are supposed to protect us all -- not just one
   person. Where will we go and survive? Shall we kill our kids since we
   are struggling to take care of them?"

   Make Nyashanu, 27, said he would continue protesting because he is
   miserable about being unemployed.

   He said police were indiscriminately beating demonstrators -- even
   elderly ones and people not protesting. "Is this democracy?" he asked,
   adding that it was a peaceful demonstration but police were causing
   chaos.

   The opposition said it will hold another protest Monday in Zimbabwe's
   second largest city, Bulawayo, and will go to other cities and places
   until the government addresses the economy.

   Government response

   Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa called the protests
   counterproductive, saying January's demonstrations against fuel price
   increases resulted in $20 million to $30 million in losses for
   businesses from looting and non-productive days.

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