Water cannon, police trucks at MDC HQ days after disputed Zim elections

2018-08-06 12:30
Zimbabwean riot police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) the day after troops opened fire on protests in Harare.(Marco Longari, AFP)

Zimbabwean riot police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) the day after troops opened fire on protests in Harare.(Marco Longari, AFP)

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Zimbabwean police are reportedly maintaining a 24-hour presence at the main opposition MDC head office in Harare, days after a disputed poll that returned President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power for another five years.

Last week soldiers shot dead six civilians in central Harare as they crushed an opposition protest.

According to New Zimbabwe.com, Two water cannon as well as two trucks with anti-riot police remained parked in front of the MDC headquarters, with party activists saying they were there round the clock.

But the MDC said it was not bothered about the police presence.

"MDC Alliance is not bothered by that and we urge the police to stay put for as long as they wish… For us it is business as usual. They will not be noticed. We know they are hungry and they can continue receiving government handouts at the expense of democracy. All we know is that (Nelson) Chamisa won the election," MDC Alliance presidential spokesman Nkululeko Sibanda was quoted as saying.

This came as Chamisa, claimed that the government was trying to eliminate him as he prepared to challenge the result of the elections.

More dangerous situation than Iraq

"These guys are trained to kill and have been tracking me, doing all sorts of things," Chamisa told Britain's Sunday Times.

The MDC Alliance was this week likely to file a petition against Mnangagwa's victory in the constitutional court, which could delay his inauguration.

Chamisa told the Sunday Times his supporters are ready to go onto the streets, but he is wary of the repercussions.

"People are calling on me, wanting me to give the signal to go to the streets," Chamisa said. "But I am worried there will be massive bloodshed."

He added: "This is a more dangerous situation than Iraq."

Last week Chamisa's top ally, Tendai Biti, claimed he and Chamisa were potential targets of an assassination plot ordered by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. 

Chiwenga has dismissed the allegation, telling Harare's private Daily News that the claims showed Biti was "deranged" and in need of "mental evaluation".

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