HARARE – Police fought running battles with unemployed youths in Chitungwiza for the second day in three days on Monday, as 12 activists linked to the Movement for Democratic Change were denied bail by magistrates after an earlier protest on Saturday.
Dozens of stone-throwing youths blocked roads with burning tyres as police fired teargas to quell the protests over lack of jobs and economic hardships.
The government accused local MP Job Sikhala of inciting the protests.
The dozen youths, who included Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, the MDC national youth assembly spokesman, were all denied bail after they were brought to the Chitungwiza Magistrate’s Court in a panel van to face charges of participating in an illegal protest and public violence.
Deputy information minister Energy Mutodi directly accused Sikhala of instigating the riots, linking the developments in Chitungwiza to spontaneous protests that broke out in Masvingo two weeks ago when the Zengeza West MP was acquitted of treason by a judge.
“The violence we have seen in Masvingo and in Chitungwiza is a power grab game. Mr Job Sikhala thinks it’s his time to lead opposition politics,” Mutodi said.
