Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
July 2016 was tension filled with several anti-government protests taking place and
virtually bringing the city to a standstill. Schools, workplaces and informal trading
places were all closed on 6 and 7 July. In some areas especially in Makokoba
violence erupted as roads were blockaded, tyres burnt and thrown onto roads and
some shops looted.
A significant number of people were brutalized and assaulted by police officers. Over
eighty residents including children were arrested after the stay away and brought
before the courts. Most of the residents arrested were just picked up on the streets,
taxi ranks or market place. The trial date was set for 31 August 2016 after the
accused persons appeared in court on July 29.
Citizens were demonstrating against what they called bad governance, corruption,
police roadblocks, unemployment, hunger and intended introduction of bond notes.
The arrests of citizens and open threats from the securocrats were meant to instil
fear in civic society and prodemocracy activists and citizens in general.
HIGHLIGHTS
On 6 July at house number 2219 First Street
in Makokoba a policeman threw a teargas
canister into Gogo Dube’s* house causing a
fire which burnt the house and destroyed all
household property. The old lady and her five
grandchildren inhaled tear gas and were
injured in the process of escaping. In a similar
incident in the same township a three year old
child died at Burombo Flats after a teargas
canister was thrown into the house and the
toddler inhaled the smoke.
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