Zimbabwe police cracks down on protesting drivers

Zimbabwean police on Monday fired tear gas to dispel violent protests by public minibus drivers against police corruption in Harare.

The rioters hurled stones at the police while they blocked roads and burned tyres, an act that resulted into violence with police firing tear gas and water canons.

The Zimbabwean drivers along with owners of the vehicles accuse the police of seeking to raise money for their operations by imposing hefty fines on their vehicles, which they say impacts on their business, Reuters reports.

Riot police detain residents of Epworth suburb after a protest by taxi drivers turned violent in Harare, Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/Krpedn1GOc

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Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said at a press conference that anti-riot police had been deployed in two townships outside Harare and that “all those who are inciting and engaging in violence that such misconduct will be severely dealt with.”

She added that 30 people have been arrested.

#Zimbabwe: ZRP issues statement on Harare protest https://t.co/x2RrVHUrqR pic.twitter.com/hm33bBdgxz

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A Reuters witness said police fired teargas, beat up protesters and broke down doors at some houses, saying they were looking for organisers of the protest.

Last week, hundreds of people protested in the Beitbridge border town next to South Africa, south of the capital, against the ban on imports of basic commodities.

At least 71 people were arrested.