Zimbabwe protests ends in arrests

Worker protests in Zimbabwe were yesterday capitalised by arrests of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) members.

Police used tear gas canisters and water cannons to dismiss protesters for the newly imposed 2% tax on electronic transfers, amidst economic challenges Zimbabwe is facing.

The ZCTU top officials were arrested at their head office in Zimbabwe’s capital whilst in preparation for the planned demonstrations.

Newsday publication report indicates that the arrested members were the president of the union, Peter Mutasa and secretary general Japhet Moyo, whilst juniors at were beaten up by police.

Apart from arresting the members of the union, there was a heavy presence of police in Harare’s Central Business District to repress the demonstrations.

Some members at the office locked themselves in their offices in fear of police attacks.

Despite maintaining to go on with the protests after police banned the protests on cholera outbreak issue, Harare magistrate upheld police ban, claiming the fight against cholera was still on and the prospect of violence was foreseen.

Elsewhere, in Mutare, 20 activists were arrested the morning, while 12 were arrested in Masvingo for defying the police ban.

In an interview with Newsday, the protesters’ lawyer, Collin Maboke, said they were being charged for disobeying section 37 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.

In Gweru, protests succeeded in the presence of hefty security, and the ZCTU members chanted slogans taunting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.