Another protest is happening in Harare right now! We give you live updates of today’s protest where hundreds are marching in Harare CBD over two issues:
- Zanu PF government’s failure to provide the 2,2 million job it promised in its 2013 election campaign and,
- Government’s intention to introduce bond notes
We have received reports that police have attacked a journalist and threatened to destroy camera equipment of a news crew in what is seen as an attempt to foil the publication of the police brutality on peaceful demonstrators.
13:00Reports indicate that around 1 pm, police, armed with teargas, water cannons, baton sticks and guns, descended on the peaceful protesters, throwing teargas and causing chaos in the city centre in a bid to stop marchers from advancing to Parliament building.
“Just quit and go l’ll forgive you” – Protestors sign #NoToBondnotes @MagambaTV @263Chat @KalabashMedia pic.twitter.com/I802V3pprZ
— Open Parly ZW (@OpenParlyZw) August 3, 2016
Water canon trucks,tear gas pple running ! Again Violation of Constitutional rights #NoToBondNotes #ThisFlag ????? pic.twitter.com/ROwo0zPqzD
— Gilbert.Navonika (@giggz83) August 3, 2016
12:15#zimbabwe anti-gvt protest. We heard the order, “Take out the cameras” then riot police chase after protesters, everyone runs #harare
— harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) August 3, 2016
The hundreds of demonstrators have thronged the ministry of legal affairs offices to submit a petition against bond notes. Next, they move to parliament building to submit a petition on unemployment.
11:30@ProfJNMoyo @NewsDayZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/sCPfmWfrMc
— Concerned Citizen (@Muzimba1980) August 3, 2016
What the people are saying about the demos
11:00 Listen to the Audio. A protester speaks why she is in the street#notobondnotes pic.twitter.com/lj6WNDHyJ4
— Tonderai kambarami (@Tondikambi) August 3, 2016
[su_audio url=”https://newsday.wpengine.com/2016/08/03/updates-demos-rock-harare/aud-20160803-wa0008/”]
Today’s protests come at a time when civil frustration is rising over government’s mismanagement of the economy, corruption, among many other failures of the Zanu PF admnistration.
10:30 Carrying the Zimbabwe Flag, which has become a symbol of peaceful civic action, the majority of the demonstrators are singing Ishe Komborera Africa, a song that is associated with revolution and emancipation from oppression.
Meanwhile, anti-riot police officers have been deployed at various corners of the city centre ostensibly to intimidate the protesters and crush the civic action after President Robert Mugabe’s recent public pronouncements that police were supposed to descend on any protesters.
But in a feat of defiance, which has become the new form of civic action, the protesters are cheerfully singing as they gather around.
Previous demonstrations: About the promised 2,2 million jobsThree years after Zanu PF madea promise to provide 2,2 million jobs, over 30 000 workers were fired from employment after a Supreme Court on July 17 last year made a landmark ruling allowing employers to fire workers on three months’ notice.
Thousands of people including university graduates have turned to vending as the economy and employment sector continue to shrink.
The Zanu PF 2013 election manifesto promised to provide every Zimbabwean with a high quality life in terms of “access to decent work or employment, reliable transport, quality education, good health, decent housing or shelter, water and sanitation”, as well as to build 1,25 million houses to clear the national housing backlog.
REPORTING BY OBEY MANAYITI from the scene.
EDITING & MULTIMEDIA BY TAPIWA ZIVIRA/ TINOTENDA SAMUKANGE
