SEVERAL shops and offices along Nelson Mandela Avenue and other streets in Harare temporarily closed yesterday as anti-riot police and MDC-T youths fought running battles in the city centre.
BY MOSES MATENGA
A total of 35 people — some of them MDC-T youths and others who claimed they were vendors and passers-by — were arrested in the latest episode of violence, as political temperatures soar.
Parts of the central business district resembled a warzone, as violent clashes erupted when police tried to block a demonstration by the youths, who were demanding the immediate resignation of President Robert Mugabe, whom they blamed for the worsening economic challenges.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the clashes and the arrests.
Photojournalist Andrison Manyere was also arrested for filming the exchanges between the police and the stone-throwing MDC-T youths.
The placard-waving youths gathered at the corner of Julius Nyerere Way and Nelson Mandela Avenue singing and chanting MDC-T slogans, while denouncing Mugabe and the police for allegedly taking sides with Zanu PF.
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They alleged whenever political violence broke out, police would only target the opposition.
Police, who were on high alert since morning, drove towards the youths, who fled and waited at the MDC-T’s Harvest House headquarters, where the clashes began.
The MDC-T youths accused the police of blocking them from exercising their constitutional right to protest.
The youths proceeded to First Street, where some shop owners temporarily closed shop, fearing being caught in the crossfire.
Vendors trading along the pavements quickly grabbed their wares and scurried for cover, as police and the youths clashed.
Police were seen beating up some youths, and arresting others during the clashes.
A police truck was later deployed at Harvest House, where NewsDay witnessed several people being apprehended and taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Anti-riot police blocked Nelson Mandela Avenue and stopped cars from passing through, as they moved in to trap the youths, who fled in different directions.
Others were seen holding teargas cannisters, but they did not use them, as the crowd of onlookers continued to swell. Charamba said police would not tolerate violent behaviour.
“Thirty-five people were arrested. They started protesting at Harvest House, challenging why they were being treated unfairly, in reference to the arrests in Hopley,” she said.
“They were intercepted by the police when they started marching towards Parliament. They began throwing stones and missiles towards police officers. No officer was hurt, but we are sending a strong warning that we will not tolerate any violence or misconduct.
