By Lloyd Takawira
Authorities have left no stone unturned in their quest to quash the #31July demonstrations across the country with reports that movement in towns and cities have been blocked.
BustopTV can exclusively report that Harare Central Business District is empty, with few cars on the streets. Soldiers and police are manning checkpoints surrounding the CBD along Seke road, Beatrice road, Bulawayo road, Prince Edward road, Enterprise and Mutare road.
Various locations in Harare visited by BustopTV are quiet with a sizable number of soldiers and anti-riot police who are patrolling mainly business centres. At Chigovanyika in Chitungwiza and Gazaland Highfield riot police officers reportedly attacked a sizable number of people who had gathered ostensibly to demonstrate.
Authorities have also arrested novelist and filmmaker, Tsitsi Dangarembga and four of her colleagues at the Borrowdale Race Course who were protesting.
Dangarembga tweeted “Arrested at Borrowdale. Ope it will be ok.”
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights also reported that Obey Shava and his clients MDC Alliance trio of Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were also arrested.
“@ZLHRLawyers lawyer Obey Shaba @obeyshava with his clients @JoanaMamombe @MarovaNetsai & @ceechimbiri2 were arrested near ZANU PF headquarters on their way to Central police where they are scheduled to report as part of bail conditions” ZLHR tweeted.
In Masvingo Henry Chivhanga, the Director of Disability Amalgamation Community Trust was arrested and charged with unnecessary movement.
In Bulawayo reports are authorities have shut all roads leading to the central business district with no notable arrest as many locations are reported to be quite.
Meanwhile veteran Bulawayo based journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu who was arrested yesterday has been granted bail by a court.
According to ZimLive, “Bulawayo court has freed @zimlive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew Advent Mathuthu on free bail after he was charged with incitement of public violence. His lawyer Nqobani Sithole says charge is a stitch-up. Mathuthu’s other nephew Tawanda Muchehiwa still missing.”
The planned demonstration have seen people staying in their homes shunning going out.
However opposition leaders and organisers of the demonstration have said it’s a successful day in Zimbabwe as people stayed away from the CBD signalling that authorities are fearful , with Tsenengamu throwing a jibe on his Facebook saying, “authorities have demonstrated on behalf of the people.”
