Following the demonstrations that were called by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday accused western countries of supporting violent countrywide protests in January that were sparked by a huge rise in fuel prices.
Mnangagwa’s government has castigated the opposition MDC Alliance as the main culprit which precipitated violence.
“We regret the loss of life but we needed to protect property as well as other citizens not involved in the protests,” President Mnangagwa told local reporters.
“We have told the western countries that they cannot turn around and raise concerns when they are the ones sponsoring the violence,” he added.
Authorities have blamed the protests on the main opposition, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, and on non-governmental organisations that they said were backed by western governments.
However at a funeral of the deceased Kelvin Tinashe Choto of Chitungwiza who was shoot dead by the members of ZRP following the protests, MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa, attended the funeral and blamed President Mnangagwa’s government for abusing human rights.
Chamisa said, “Mnangagwa’s government is injustice at all, it lacks the capacity of safeguarding human rights, How can the legitimate government use repressive state apparatus like the police and soldiers to kill the innocent who are fighting for their rights.”
“I heard that the deceased was not the member of MDC, but if ZANU PF is meant for the people why did they not even send a representative to pay their condolences even someone of low profile like Chinotimba,” Chamisa added.
After the demonstrations, police have arrested more than 1100 people, including opposition lawmakers, trade unionists and even some children as part of the crackdown, which has been criticised by the US, the European Union and Britain as well as by rights groups.
At least 12 civilians died and hundreds more were injured following a joint intervention of police and military on protesters after shops were looted and set on fire. Some VID trucks and private vehicles were also scorched.
