POLICE have opened fire on protesters flooding the streets of Zimbabwe following delays in announcing the winner of the presidential elections. Shocking BBC footage shows an army officer lashing a protester amid clashes.
One person has been shot dead as police in Harare, Zimbabwe, continue to clash with opposition protesters over alleged fraud in the country’s election.
Thousands of supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) chanted anti-government slogans and destroyed benches, signs, traffic lights in Harare prompting police to fire warning shots, water cannon and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds.
Protesters responded by burning tires and throwing rocks until the army intervened sending people running for cover as many were wounded.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of using underhand tactics to steal the election from them.
An angry crowd of mostly young men, some of whom covered their faces, whistled and chanted “Chamisa, Chamisa” in downtown Harare.
Zimbabwe election: Army officers beat up protesters in Harare (Image: BBC)
It comes as Zimbabwe’s president warned against making “provocative statements” as protesters ran rampant through the streets. “Now is the time for responsibility and above all peace,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, opposition challenger Nelson Chamisa is again claiming victory over Mnangagwa writing on Twitter that, “No amount of results manipulation will alter your WILL.”
FT Southern Africa correspondent Joseph Cotterill, who is currently in Harare following the aftermath of the Zimbabwe election, has been recording the violent unravelling of the protest on the streets of Harare.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Cotterill said: “I saw one soldier in a blue and red ski-mask scream ‘I’ll show you free and fair’ as his squad beat women, bystanders, anyone, up the road.
“One pointed his AK-47 right at me.”
In another tweet, he added: “More armoured cars, more soldiers piling in around ZANU-PF HQ and election results centre. I’m leaving the area as I didn’t bring my flak jacket.”
