Twenty injured as Zim police, protesters clash
About 20 people were injured when police clashed with protesters in Harare, dispersing them with batons and tear gas, organizers said.
|||Harare - About 20 people were injured Wednesday when police clashed with protesters in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, dispersing them with batons and tear gas, organizers said.
The southern African country has already seen about 10 demonstrations this month as citizens protest alleged human rights abuses and the deterioration of the economy under 92-year-old president Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980.
Demonstrators this time marched to the central bank to protest the upcoming introduction of notes with equivalent US dollar values to exporters to ease a cash shortage in the country.
“Until we are all dead, the protests will go ahead,” one of the organizers, Promise Mkwanazi, vowed.
Police were not available for comment.
Critics say the so-called bond notes could spark rampant printing of cash as happened between 2006 and 2008. Spiralling inflation forced Zimbabwe to swap its currency for the US dollar in 2009.
ANA-dpa