Zimbabweans refuse to help police identify protestors

Zimbabwe Republic Police took to social media on Monday to ask Zimbabwean nationals to help them identify protestors.

Zimbabweans had taken to the streets on Monday to protest after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a more than 100% rise in the price of petrol and diesel on Saturday night, in a move he said would end fuel shortages.

Protesters turned back drivers and blocked buses from carrying passengers in Zimbabwe’s two main cities of Harare and Bulawayo as the main labour federation called for three-day nationwide strike.

Soldiers were deployed at a shopping centre in Bulawayo’s township of Entumbane, where protesters looted shops.

Demonstrators in the second city had attacked minibuses heading to the city centre and used burning tyres and stones to block the main routes into town while some schools were turning away pupils fearing for their safety.

Shops closed in downtown Harare as riot police patrolled the streets and a military helicopter flew over the capital.

Leadership is needed pic.twitter.com/amr7xg771z

— African (@ali_naka) January 14, 2019

Taking to social media, Zimbabwean police noted “with concern” that the protests had turned violent.

“While individuals have a right to demonstrate, the right should be exercised in peace. Acts of violence violate other people’s rights and are not acceptable.

“We are appealing to members of the public to desist from forcing other people to participate in demos. Individuals have a right to choose not to participate. Barricading roads with tyres, stones and other objects and looting of shops is unlawful,” said the police on Twitter.

The police has noted with concern that the on going protests have turned violent. While individuals have a right to demonstrate the right should be exercised in peace. Acts of violence violate other people's rights and are not acceptable.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) January 14, 2019

They further said anyone who was found to be on the wrong side of the law would face the “full wrath” of the law, further appealing to the public to help identify protestors they posted pictures of on social media.

We are appealing to members of the public to desist from forcing other people to participate in demos. Individuals have a right to choose not to participate. Barricading roads with tyres, stones and other objects and looting of shops is unlawful.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) January 14, 2019

Zimbabweans responded to the call, but said they would only help identify those protestors if the police helped them identify police officers who shot protestors first. Some said they could only identify the president, while others said they saw his son.

These were some of the reactions on social media:

Zimbabweans refuse to help police identify protestors

– Additional reporting by AFP

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.