Roughly 200 protesters gathered in downtown Harare on Wednesday under the banner #MyZimbabwe to call on President Robert Mugabe to resign.
Police in Zimbabwe fired warning shots and used tear gas and water cannons to suppress an anti-government protest in Harare on Wednesday. About 60 protesters were arrested, according to local reports.
Roughly 200 protesters gathered in downtown Harare on Wednesday under the banner #MyZimbabwe to call on President Robert Mugabe to resign. Many of the demonstrators were youth members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Wednesday’s protest is the latest in a series of anti-Mugabe protests that have rocked Zimbabwe this year. Protesters have criticized the 92-year-old leader for devastating the national economy and committing human rights abuses throughout his 36-year tenure.
Many protesters, including journalist Lucy Yasini, were reportedly injured in clashes with the police. Protesters allegedly threw stones and other small objects at police officers, who retaliated by firing warning shots into the air and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba stated that she could not comment on the development.
The protest came two days before Friday’s planned protest orchestrated by all opposition parties to demand Mr. Mugabe to pass electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 elections.
