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Anti-Mugabe Protests in Harare As SADC Leaders Leave Zimbabwe


FILE: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe addresses people gathered for his 91st birthday celebration in Victoria Falls, Feb. 28, 2015.
FILE: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe addresses people gathered for his 91st birthday celebration in Victoria Falls, Feb. 28, 2015.

Youths of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change formation led by former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, today clashed with the police in the full glare of some leaders of the Southern African Development Community.

About 400 MDC-T youths took to the streets of Harare for the second time this week calling on SADC leaders to address the dire political and economic situation in Zimbabwe.

The placard-carrying protestors, singing revolutionary songs and denouncing President Robert Mugabe’s government, waived some placards inscribed, I quote: “SADC must act on Zimbabwe now”

One of the protestors, Happymore Chidziva, leader of the MDC-T youth assembly, told Studio 7 that today’s protest was meant to send a clear anti-Mugabe message to the SADC heads of state and government, who were leaving the country following the completion of yesterday’s SADC Extra Ordinary Summit focusing on industrialization.

Chidziva said police pounced on them in full glare of some SADC leaders, who included Lesotho Prime Minister, Phakalitha Mosisili, whose motor vehicle convoy was leaving the city’s central business district for the Harare International Airport.

The MDC-T youth leader said two protestors were seriously injured during the clashes but no arrests were made by the police.

General secretary of the MDC-T youth wing, Lovemore Chinoputsa, said the demonstrations will continue until Zimbabwe holds free and fair elections.

Chinoputsa said his party wrote a letter to the government urging authorities to address their concerns but their concerns fell on deaf ears.

Studio 7 failed to get a comment from Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi while police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she was not aware of today’s clashes.

Charamba however urged those who want to demonstrate to first seek police clearance.

Zanu PF lawmaker, Mayor Wadzajena, said the MDC-T is singing for its supper. The party is currently boycotting parliamentary by-elections saying it will not participate in any national poll until the country introduces wide-ranging electoral reforms.

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