Source: Rights group condemns use of tear gas – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 4 July 2017
HARARE – A rights group has condemned the use of tear gas by police
against ordinary citizens in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) last
week and said such action was “reckless and dangerous”.
Dozens were choked when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at crowds
as they tried to disperse protesting vendors, commuter omnibus crew and
rank marshals who were protesting against police harassment and use of
spikes to control traffic.
This led to a total lockdown of Harare’s CBD as the police fought running
battles with the protestors.
“Heal Zimbabwe castigates the discharge of tear smoke canisters in the CBD
or anywhere else as a reckless and dangerous strategy to disperse crowds,”
the rights group said in a statement.
“Such carelessness is a cause for concern as it shows lack of respect for
human life and security. Constitutionally, the police are supposed to
protect and secure the lives and property of people.
“It is also an infringement of citizen’s fundamental human rights and
freedoms such as section 52 of the Constitution that provide for right to
personal security.”
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