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Zimbabwe president says 'heads will roll' after a dozen killed in brutal crackdown

Mr Mnangagwa attempted to shift blame to rogue security services as he cut short a trip to Davos - POOL TASS News Agency
Mr Mnangagwa attempted to shift blame to rogue security services as he cut short a trip to Davos - POOL TASS News Agency

Zimbabwe’s beleaguered president on Tuesday promised "heads will roll" over a brutal crackdown on protesters as he cut short his trip to Davos to deal with the growing crisis at home.

Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing a barrage of domestic and international criticism over the violent response to protests sparked by the doubling of the fuel price.

Lawyers and activists say police and soldiers have killed at least a dozen people, wounded scores and arrested hundreds since demonstrations began nine days ago. Zimbabwe's Human Rights Commission accused security forces of systematic torture.

Reports say people have been dragged from their homes in several cities and towns late at night even after the protests ended, with children as young as nine attacked, mainly by soldiers from the Zimbabwe National Army.

Mr Mnangagwa came to power via a coup d’etat 14 months ago that ousted longtime president Robert Mugabe, and narrowly won a presidential election last August.

After attempting to raise investment for bankrupt Zimbabwe from Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, he abandoned the final leg of his tour to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

 Jan. 14, 2019 file photo, protestors gather on the streets during demonstrations over the hike in fuel prices in Harare - Credit: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/ AP
Fuel hike protesters in Harare earlier this month Credit: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/ AP

"Violence or misconduct by our security forces is unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe,” Mr Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter, hours after his luxury charter flight touched down in Harare.

"Chaos and insubordination will not be tolerated. Misconduct will be investigated. If required, heads will roll. ”

Mr Mnangagwa called for a "national dialogue" over the protests.

But he complained that protests against the rise fuel prices, which were called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, “was not a peaceful protest” and he added there was “wanton violence and cynical destruction.”

Hundreds of small shops, supermarkets, private homes, petrol pumps, and several commercial and private vehicles were destroyed by some protesters, including members of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

There was no official death toll given by the government but several non governmental organisations say they believe at least 12 have died and more than 150 were injured by gun shot wounds.

About 700 people were arrested around the country and are being fast-tracked through the courts in defiance of Zimbabwe’s constitution, several lawyers said this week.

On Tuesday, many drivers stayed off the roads and thousands of vendors did not shown up for work. Four members of parliament for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, remained in detention after being arrested on Monday.

A 42-year-old soldier and father of three, speaking on the condition of anonymity near his tiny home on the outskirts of Harare on Tuesday, said that he was given orders for people to be “stopped” and “beaten up” last week.

"I don’t want to think about it and I am used to it. We hate this government as we are so poorly paid.”

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in Geneva en route to Davos, called for US trade restrictions on Zimbabwe to be lifted “to help ease shortages of food and fuel, because they have embarked on a path of democracy and on a path of real recovery.”

He said his government was in discussions with Harare about how best to help.

When Zimbabwe’s local currency became worthless in 2008 and shops were empty, South Africa sent emergency funding to Harare to ease the humanitarian crisis.

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