via 6 protesting MDC youths seriously injured, scores arrested | The Zimbabwean 18 August 2014
Harare police on Monday arrested scores of demonstrating MDC youths in skirmishes that left six seriously injured.
The demonstration was part of an MDC national campaign for jobs the party launched in July.
A local photojournalist working for the Zimbabwe Mail was also arrested.
Unemployment keeps rising as company close at a fast rate in the post-2013 general election period.
Zanu (PF), which controversially won the polls, promised to create 2 million jobs in its pre-election campaign but, a year after, it has failed to boost employment.
“Today, as hundreds of youths peacefully marched demanding that the Zanu (PF) government delivers on its promise for jobs, armed riot police quelled the protest, seriously injuring the youths and arresting scores of others,” said MDC in a statement.
The injured were rushed to hospital where they are receiving treatment.
“The MDC condemns the police’s violent action against a peaceful protest in violation of the national constitution which makes peaceful protests legal.
“The violent clampdown takes place in the presence of SADC Heads of State, hours after President Mugabe comes into office as the new SADC chair,” added MDC.
The SADC heads of State and government are winding up their summit in the resort town of Victoria Falls for the regional bloc’s 34th conference where President Robert Mugabe became the new chair for the next 12 months.
Foreign Affairs minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, recently told SADC summit delegates that Zimbabweans would not take to the streets to protest a poorly performing economy.
COMMENTS
Hero youths you will overcome and win
Youths Should stop being used by Morgan and Khupe coz when its election same youths will be sidelined to contest and thy will be told all positions are reserved for women.
ROBBERS AND MUGGERS, WHERE IS THE BEEF! JOBS!
Brave youths I admire you and you have my sympathies. True heroes of tomorrow
ZPF government is very autocratic. Dont expect any piece of good thing from it. They are black oppressors. So “street revolution” is the only answer to the Zim problems. Intensify.
If playing to a foreign agenda is heroic then God forbids. These are young people who are being abused by the likes of Tsvangirai for his political relevance moreso on the sidelines of the just ended SADC conference.
You are the true heroes of the country today. I SALUTE YOU ALL.
You are inciting these poor and ignorant young people to break the law in the hope that you will strive in a destabilized Zimbabwe, what a pity.
Freedom comes with the price. You are on the right track. Keep the fires burning. The future belongs to you. Don’t stop.
no democracy get well soon heros
and i am sure more is on the way, fail the youth and don’t expect any sympathy from them..no good robbing peter to pay paul, you very quickly run out of peters…