Today at 9am around 250 ordinary Zimbabweans, mainly women, gathered at the Reserve Bank in the center of town to protest against the current cash crisis. Amongst the chronic shortages plaguing the country, notably food and fuel, the illegal zanu pf regime is unable to print enough cash to meet spiraling inflation.
"Women of Zimbabwe Arise" (WOZA) is a civic group determined to maintain its vocal opposition to crippling government ineptitude. Many of the women in the group have been jailed in the past for voicing their displeasure, some at the Valentine's Day march held earlier this year and others at the ensuing Mother's Day march. Today's demonstration started outside the Reserve Bank then continued to a pedestrian mall nearby. The demonstrators distributed sweets to bystanders to emphasise the lack of sweetness that faces Zimbabweans across the board. The demonstrating group gathered in momentum and size, singing hymns of peace and freedom. Surprisingly, the police allowed the marchers to move freely and no immediate incidents took place.
However, at around the same time WOZA was gathered at the bank, a squad of approximately fifty riot police were grouped at the City Hall a few blocks away. Eye witnesses reported that these state agents, decked in full riot gear, were stopping random vehicles to search them. Several motorists were dragged from their vehicles and beaten for no apparent reason. There is speculation that the riot police were misinformed, and expected to find demonstrators at the City Hall. They then proceeded to intimidate innocent bystanders.