HARARE – Soldiers were deployed in Harare to break up an MDC Alliance protest at the request of the Police Commissioner General through Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu, a police spokesperson said.
Soldiers shot several protesters from the MDC Alliance who were protesting in Harare over delays in announcing presidential election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Police confirmed three people had been killed, but no figures were released on the number of protesters who were shot.
In the ensuing fallout, the legality of the deployment of the army was questioned.
But in a statement issued through the ZBC on Wednesday night, police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the deployment of the soldiers had been lawful.
Charamba said they had called for the army’s help because “the degree of disturbances of law and order have reached a magnitude where our regular police officers and reserve members are unable to cope with the situation.”
“The Commissioner General of Police [Godwin Matanga] invoked provisions of Section 37(1) of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11.17 and approached the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to request for the assistance of defence forces for the suppression of the commotion and disturbances in Harare central business district,” she said.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces will, however, remain under the command and supervision of the Commissioner General of Police.”
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance top officials Tendai Biti and Happison Chidzviva face arrest in the wake of the protest against the ZEC which later turned violent as protesters burned tyres and threw stones at police.
Said Charamba: “We are keen to interview Mr Tendai Biti and Happison Chidziva of the MDC Alliance. We are inviting them to come to CID Law and Order in Harare. They are invited so that they can assist police with investigations.”
Biti is one of the MDC Alliance principals while Chidziva leads the youth wing.
Charamba added: “We are urging members of the public to remain calm. Refrain from violence and also respect the rule of law in the country. We want to warn in no uncertain terms that those who are instigating violence should stop.”
