Zimbabwean pro-democracy activist shot dead by police
What do they expect people to do? What do they think?
These were questions a friend asked me after learning of today’s events.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a campaign initiated by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, decided to press ahead with a prayer rally earlier today despite police refusal to grant permission for them to go ahead (read our recent posts on the bannings of meetings and demonstrations). The government cracked down hard. Scores of opposition and civil leaders were arrested, and there are reports that the whole of the Highfields township in Harare was sealed off while the police fought running battles with activist and residents.
Dozens of churches in Highfield were closed to worshippers today, and beerhalls and small shops in the township had also been closed by the authorities. By dawn, police had effectively sealed off all entrances to the Zimbabwe Grounds, in Highfield, where the church-backed rally was due to take place. Only a few dozen opposition supporters managed to get close to the entrance (via The Telegraph (UK))
The arrested include:
- The two MDC presidents Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara
- Tendai Biti (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- William Bango (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- Sekai Holland (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- Grace Kwinjeh (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- Elton Makoma (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- Nelson Chamisa (MDC, Tsvangirai faction)
- Job Sikhala (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Morgan Changamire (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Frank Chamunorwa (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Linos Mushonga (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Godfrey Gumbo (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Clever Kafero (MDC, Mutambara faction)
- Chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly Dr Lovemore Madhuku
- Leaders from ZINASU (Zimbabwe National Students Union) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches
- Scores of other civic activists
The police used Israeli-made water canons as well as tear gas and live ammunition.
One person was killed:
The police shot one male adult who appeared to be the leader of the group in the chest. He died on the spot and the group dispersed (via IOL)
This via The Telegraph (UK):
Activists close to where the young man was shot said police refused to allow an ambulance to pick him up.
The MDC has released statements saying that lawyers were being denied access to the detained. An email I saw circulated by one MDC official (Ephraim Tapa) said that ,
Lawyers representing MDC leadership were brutally attacked by police upon their arrival at Machipisa police station in Highfields
So back to my friend’s questions: “What do they [Zanu PF] expect people to do?”
His bemusement is because Zimbabwe’s inflation is heading fast towards 1800% (it surged to 1,729.9 percent in February from 1,593.6 percent the previous month); life expectancy for women is 34 and for men 37 (average); HIV/AIDS statistics in our country are among the worst in the world and we’re facing massive food shortages and wide spread hunger; etc, etc, etc
Seriously…. What does the ZANU PF government expect us to do? Keep our mouths shut and passively starve to death?
Today’s crackdown and the recent bannings of political meetings nationwide would suggest so.
