Zimbabwean
Booker
nominated
novelist Tsitsi
Dangarembga,
centre, and a
colleague Julie
Barnes hold
placards as they
are arrested on
July 31, 2020 in
Harare.
(ZINYANGE
AUNTONY/AFP/
On the morning of July 31, State security agents were still mounting blockades to all major shopping centres and
metropolis.
The State was in a dilemma. After announcing that Zimbabweans were free to go about their business as there was
no demonstration, government still did not want to see people gathering, even for daily business.
Again, the same government did not want a total shutdown as in itself, it was a form of protest.
In the end, the day turned out into a shutdown that was powered and engineered by the state itself.
Movement was strictly restricted. Even rural centres failed to open for business.
With the State having conducted the first stage of thwarting the demonstration by targeting perceived organisers,
focus was now on those who attempted to demonstrate.
In addition to the numerous cases of brutality, over 60 people were arrested by the end of the day on July 31. These
include award winning author Tsitsi Dangarembga, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, student Panashe
Sivindani, who went missing before being found at a police station in Bulawayo, Disability Amalgamated Community
Trust (DACT) activist, Henry Chivhanga.
But even those who did not protest were caught up and ZPP recorded worryingly gruesome acts of assault on
citizens across the country. Once again, the poor were the target, and suffered most at the hands of the State that
has continued to wantonly violate human rights
Essentially, July 31 became the climax of human rights violations during the month of July as the State had built up
to this by capacitating the State security agents partly under the guise of enforcing the lockdown and maintaining
law and order.
Post July 31, it is clear that the State security apparatus is stronger, and as witnessed, has continued to use all
means, including unlawful methods, to crush dissent. Meanwhile the economy continues to sink, and the generality
of Zimbabweans are sliding into further poverty.
The State has indicated, and is implementing its promise to protect itself by crushing on the same people it is
supposed to serve.
The question still remains, who will protect the people?
A soldier and a police
officer brutalise a woman
in Highfields, Harare, July
31, 2020
Interview with a victim of
July 31 State Security
violence against civilians
8