The government has warned would-be protestors that it would adopt the shoot-to-kill against any violent demonstrations in future.
This was said by the Deputy Minister for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi, in an interview with the Daily News on Sunday. Said Mutodi:
They (the opposition) are desperate to maintain political relevance among their supporters, having lied to them that they would overthrow the government before the end of last year.
We will not tolerate anarchy and as such the shoot-to-kill policy that we have authorised against rogue machete-wielding miners will apply to those who will participate in violent and unlawful demonstrations.
Mutodi’s stern warning comes as the opposition MDC has announced that it will hold events across the country to remember people who were killed in January last year by security forces during fuel protests.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has also warned that it will call for a mass stay away to push the government to address the social and economic challenges bedevilling the nation.