Officers in riot gear stopped about 200 protesters as they marched through the streets of Harare toward the central bank to protest against a government plan to reintroduce local banknotes. Promise Mkwananzi, one of the organisers of the protest, pledged a “national shutdown” on 31 August. “Everybody must participate.”The new wave of protests has been prompted by the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe. Veterans of Zimbabwe’s independence war made a significant break with Mugabe for the first time last month, calling him dictatorial, manipulative and egocentric. Mugabe has recently turned toward the Zanu-PF youth league for political support, with two rallies attended by tens of thousands of people.

Source: The Guardian August 17, 2016 14:03 UTC