When Zimbabwean President-for-Life Robert Mugabe stole the last general election, his countrymen muttered. When the 92 year old exhibited his senility in the most public forum of all – repeating an old speech at the nationally televised Opening of Parliament – complaints rose a few octaves. After Africa’s worst run economy imposed import controls, the shouting has started. And now that ordinary Zimbabweans have found their voice, decades of frustration is finally boiling over. Like an abused wife who finally tires of the beatings, the people of Africa’s one-time bread basket are grabbing anything within reach to strike back – braving the tear gas, dogs and rubber bullets. And this time it looks like they will succeed. Sure, there have been many premature predictions of the Mugabe regime’s demise. But never before has the ever simmering anger erupted into violent protests. Like Hemingway’s famous quote about bankruptcy, history shows in regime change, too, it happens gradually then suddenly. Mugabe’s end game may well be approaching. – Alec Hogg
News24 Correspondent
Harare – While social media updates flowed fast and furious on developing unrest in the Zimbabwe capital Harare on Monday, the ruling party’s own paper The Patriot peacefully tweeted a link to its story on – wait for it – tips for growing winter peas.
President Robert Mugabe’s party has been accused of turning a blind eye to the frustrations of ordinary Zimbabweans, fleeced by traffic police on a daily basis and now blocked by new import regulations from the informal trading that has been a lifeline to so many in the cash-strapped southern African nation.
Riot police were reported to have used teargas against some angry Harare bus drivers who gathered on roads near a smattering of townships on Monday morning.
Some buses had earlier stopped operating, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded.
The Herald reported in an online update that protesters in the low-income area of Epworth threw missiles at police and blocked roads.
Rocks were placed on the main Mutare to Harare road just outside the capital.
An amateur video clip widely circulated had what seemed to be the sound of gunshots near Mabvuku township. It has not been independently verified. Protesters also gathered on central Harare’s First Street to demonstrate against Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who has been staying in a luxury hotel for more than a year and a half, according to watchdog @ZimMediaReview.
‘Thuggish behaviour’
There were also claims that residents of Epworth suburb had been beaten by riot police and that police dogs had been unleashed.
Harare residents emailed, Whatsapped and tweeted updates and advice. “Take care today,” read a warning on the popular Bambazonke mailing list. Facebook community page What’s Up Harare claimed there were “prolific” reports of cars being stoned.
Monday’s unrest followed protests in the border town of Beitbridge on Friday, when a government warehouse holding goods confiscated by tax authority ZIMRA was set on fire. Traders were unhappy about new regulations requiring them to get a permit to bring in basic goods from South Africa, including jam, wigs, tyres and mayonnaise.
If you have friend/relative travelling by road to and from Zimbabwe via Beitbridge tell them border post impassable due to protests
— Sure Kamhunga (@sure_kamhunga) July 1, 2016
With jobs in the formal sector at an all-time low many depended on small-scale vending to survive, or (in the case of civil servants) to boost their incomes.
Doctors, teachers and nurses were to embark on a stayaway on Tuesday in protest at the non-payment of their June salaries, according to the APEX council which represents civil servants’ associations.
Mugabe’s government appeared to have been taken by surprise by the force of the anger, with state media blaming it on a “third force”.
Zimbabwe this is what the #ThirdForce looks like. Desperation, poverty,hunger,unemployment etc
👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/N8Oab5nZH3— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) July 4, 2016
Zanu-PF official Psychology Maziwisa sparked outrage when he tweeted that “thuggish behaviour” should be “ruthlessly crushed”. His tweet was put out early on Monday morning ahead of the unrest but was later seized upon by critics who blame Mugabe’s government for the crisis.
Said @Mseyamwa: “Quotable quotes. When time comes on whose side were u? we will ask. What peace with police all over & looting?”
MDC spokesperson @GutuObert said in a tweet: “This is the end game. Everything that can go wrong has since gone wrong.” – News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/this-is-the-end-game-anger-spreads-in-harare-20160704
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(Bloomberg) — Police fired tear gas and unleashed dogs on demonstrators in the Zimbabwean capital during protests by taxi drivers over alleged police harassment, as unrest over the worsening economy deepened.The police arrested at least 30 protesters, police spokeswoman Charity Charamba told reporters Monday in Harare, the capital, saying those involved in the riots will be “severely dealt with.”
Minibus operators started the protest over complaints that police routinely demand money when they stop vehicles to check whether they are roadworthy. The riots came as hospital doctors and other state workers announced plans to strike over the government’s failure to pay salaries. They followed demonstrations on July 1 at Zimbabwe’s busiest border post, Beitbridge, over President Robert Mugabe’s decision to ban imports of basic goods.
Mugabe’s administration has faced a worsening cash shortage in recent months. Since abandoning its own currency in 2009 to end hyperinflation, Zimbabwe has used mainly U.S. dollars, as well as South African rand, euros, and British pounds. The government spends about 83 percent of its revenue on wages for state workers, according to Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Public Beatings
“Police went door to door pulling people from their homes and beating them in public with batons,” Jessica Chimedza, a 26-year-old resident of the suburb of Epworth, said by phone.
The riots spread across several of Harare’s eastern suburbs, and in Kuwadzana in the west. Minibus taxis in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, plan to stop working later on Monday, Fadious Ncube, a taxi driver in the city, said by phone.
“The government is asking us to be patient, but we’ve been patient for nearly 20 years,” Terence Masiya, 54, who drives a taxi in Harare, said by phone. “You can’t be patient if you’re hungry and can’t buy food, you can’t be patient if ministers in expensive cars are telling you to wait.”
A national strike is planned across all parts of the economy and civil service Wednesday, according to activist movement ThisFlag. The group’s spokesman, Evan Mawarire, called on Zimbabweans to remain at home on the day in a gesture of peaceful protest.
“There’ll be no violence, no marching, no protesting on the roads,” Mawarire said.
‘Failed Government’
A more militant organization known as “Enough is Enough” said Zimbabweans should seal roads and burn shops that open Wednesday.
Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change party said Monday that it supported today’s and future protests. Spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told reporters the government has failed and asked the regional Southern African Development Community to intervene.
“The situation in the cities, towns and villages points to a failed government and these demonstrations sprouting everywhere are symptomatic of grave national grievances,” said Mwonzora. “Civil servants have no pay, Zimbabweans are starving and corruption is rampant in all sectors.”
