Zimbabwe’s police use tear gas break up protest against local bank notes
by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Joe Brock
2016-08-17 12:56:30.0
HARARE — Zimbabwean police fired tear gas and a water cannon on Wednesday to disperse crowds protesting against central bank plans to re-introduce local bank notes, a Reuters witness said.
A crowd of about 100 marched through the streets of the capital Harare towards the central bank, before riot police broke up the demonstration.
Zimbabweans are worried that the central bank’s plan to introduce bank notes, or "bond notes", in October to ease the dollar shortage could open the door to rampant money printing, as happened in 2008 when inflation hit 500-billion percent, wiping out people’s savings and pensions.
Wednesday’s protest follows other similar demonstrations. A protest by graduates two weeks ago against the introduction of the bank notes was dispersed using similar methods.
After 36 years of President Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian rule, Zimbabwe has seen a rise in opposition protests fuelled by internet activism using the hashtag ThisFlag.
In July, a one-day strike shut down offices, shops, schools and some government departments. The strike was called by trade unions and Christian pastor Evan Mawarire, who has become the figurehead of the antigovernment protests. Mawarire is currently in SA with no set date for his return to Zimbabwe after Mugabe threatened him directly.
War veterans, once a strong source of support for Mugabe, have also turned against him, calling in July for him to step down.
Reuters with AFP
A one-hundred-trillion-dollar Zimbabwe note issued in 2008 is displayed in New York. A 10-year economic recession saw inflation rise to 500-billion percent in December 2008. Picture: BLOOMBERG/DANIEL ACKER
HARARE — Zimbabwean police fired tear gas and a water cannon on Wednesday to disperse crowds protesting against central bank plans to re-introduce local bank notes, a Reuters witness said.
A crowd of about 100 marched through the streets of the capital Harare towards the central bank, before riot police broke up the demonstration.
Zimbabweans are worried that the central bank’s plan to introduce bank notes, or "bond notes", in October to ease the dollar shortage could open the door to rampant money printing, as happened in 2008 when inflation hit 500-billion percent, wiping out people’s savings and pensions.
Wednesday’s protest follows other similar demonstrations. A protest by graduates two weeks ago against the introduction of the bank notes was dispersed using similar methods.
After 36 years of President Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian rule, Zimbabwe has seen a rise in opposition protests fuelled by internet activism using the hashtag ThisFlag.
In July, a one-day strike shut down offices, shops, schools and some government departments. The strike was called by trade unions and Christian pastor Evan Mawarire, who has become the figurehead of the antigovernment protests. Mawarire is currently in SA with no set date for his return to Zimbabwe after Mugabe threatened him directly.
War veterans, once a strong source of support for Mugabe, have also turned against him, calling in July for him to step down.
Reuters with AFP
