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Zimbabwe fuel protests

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Zimbabwe fuel protests
Date14 January 2019 – 17 January 2019
(5 years, 11 months, 1 week and 5 days)
Location
Zimbabwe
Caused by130% increase in fuel prices
GoalsElimination of the fuel price increase.
MethodsCivil resistance, demonstrations, protest marches, rioting, picketing
Parties
Casualties and losses

Fuel protests began in Zimbabwe on 14 January 2019 following a 130% increase in the price of fuel imposed by the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa. Thousands of Zimbabweans protested against the price increase, along with increasing levels of poverty, the poor state of the economy, and declining standards of living. The government responded with a coordinated crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests and multiple deaths. The protests stopped after three days; by 17 January, businesses started reopening as the protests ended.[2]

Background

In an effort to improve the financial and fiscal situation of the country following the establishment of the Mnangagwa government in 2017, the government initiated a number of austerity policies in an effort to kick-start the moribund economy.[5] By October 2018, foreign currency shortages led to large scale business closures and shortages of imported commodities, including fuel.[6] This led to persistent fuel shortages, strikes by government workers, and a worsening economic environment.[7][8]

On 12 January 2019, the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Agency would more than double fuel prices as of midnight that night.[9] The price of diesel rose from US$1.38 to US$3.11 per litre (equivalent to $11.77 per US gallon or €2.73 per litre) and that of petrol from US$1.43 to US$3.31 per litre ($12.53 per US gallon or €2.91 per litre), for an increase of almost 130% overnight,[7] making Zimbabwe's the most expensive fuel in the world at the time.[4] Mnangagwa stated that the price increases were needed to reduce fuel shortages and illegal trading.[10] The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions called for a three-day strike in protest at the price increases.[4]

Protests

Protests began in Harare on 14 January 2019. In response, the police and military coordinated raides on the homes of some residents alongside efforts to quell the crowds [11] Beyond the capital, disturbances were also reported in the cities of Mutare and Bulawayo.[12] By the end of the day, the government reported that three people, including one policeman, had died in the protests.[13] Non-government sources reported that around 200 people had been arrested and that eight had been killed in the protests by police.[3][4] The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights stated that 172 people had been injured,[2] 68 were treated for gunshot wounds.[14] Indiscriminate acts of violence by the police on both protesters and bystanders were also reported,[15] along with acts of looting by some protesters in Harare, Bulawayo[16] and Kadoma.[17]

During the protests, the government blocked access to social messaging services WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. Later the government blocked all access to the internet once it was noticed that people were using VPNs to access news about the protests.[18] The country's largest cellular provider, Econet, confirmed that the government issued a directive blocking all internet access during the protests.[19]

On the third day of the protests, civil society activist and pastor Evan Mawarire was arrested. Mawarire's lawyer stated that the government alleged that his inciting of violent protests on Twitter as the reason for the arrest. The Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T) stated that its party leadership had been detained by security forces during the protests.[20] An unknown number of abductions by security personnel were reported during the crackdown on the protests.[21]

The government blamed the MDC-T for the protests.[13][22] MDC-T offices were attacked and torched during the protests with the MDC-T alleging that ZANU-PF supporters were responsible.[12][23] The government stated that government property and property owned by the ruling ZANU-PF party was damaged in the attacks and blamed MDC-T supporters.[24] The Zimbabwean government stated that the protests were coordinated by opposition parties and compared the protests to terrorism.[25] The MDC-T denied government accusations that they were responsible for violence committed by protesters and highlighted acts of violence committed by government forces against protesters and civilians.[26]

On 17 January in Harare, the fourth and final day of fixtures in round three of the 2018–19 Logan Cup cricket tournament were both called off due to the protests.[27]

Response

The MDC-T called on South Africa to intervene and criticise the government's violent response.[28] Human Rights Watch stated that the use of unlawful lethal force by the government should be investigated and those responsible prosecuted.[29] Zimbabweans in South Africa demonstrated to encourage South Africa to put pressure on the government to release arrested opposition leaders, restore internet access, and respect human rights.[30]

South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, stated that the situation within Zimbabwe was so bad that the South African government should abandon its Mbeki-era quiet diplomacy policy and intervene.[31] The Economic Freedom Fighters, a South African political party, issued a statement condemning the Zimbabwe government's violent response to the protests.[32] The South African Federation of Trade Unions condemned both the fuel price increase and the government's use of lethal force against the protesters.[33] The South African government said it was monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe and stated with confidence that "measures being taken by the Zimbabwean government will resolve the situation."[34]

Human Rights Watch criticised the Southern African Development Community and the African Union for remaining silent on the violations of human rights by the Zimbabwean government during the protests.[35]

The United States embassy in Zimbabwe stated that it was "alarmed by credible reports that security forces are targeting and beating political activists and labor leaders".[36] The embassy also urged the government to restore access to social media and for peaceful protests.[36] The United Kingdom summoned the Zimbabwean ambassador to express its concern over the unrest and called on Zimbabwe to "ensure its security forces act professionally, proportionately and at all times with respect for human life.”[37] The European Union criticised the disproportionate use of "force by security personnel" and stated that it expected "the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold human rights and the rule of law, as enshrined in the constitution, and ensure due legal process for those detained." [38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Zimbabwe police arrest 600 in harsh crackdown on protests". MSN. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Dzirutwe, MacDonald (17 January 2019). "UPDATE 2-Zimbabwe doctors treat 68 for gunshot wounds, police..." Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "'Eight killed and 200 detained in Zimbabwe crackdown on fuel price protests' – Amnesty International". The Zimbabwe Daily. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Zimbabwe military quells fuel price protests; several deaths". MSN. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  5. ^ Elias, Mambo (24 November 2017). "Mnangagwa plans major policy shift". The Zimbabwe Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Shops shut doors as Zimbabwe financial crisis deepens". www.iol.co.za. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b Ndlovu, Ray (12 January 2019). "Fuel price shock! Zim's petrol price to more than double". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Where you wait seven hours and still get no fuel". BBC. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Protests follow massive Zimbabwe fuel price hike". www.defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Zimbabwe police fire tear gas as fuel price hike protest continues". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Zimbabwe military quells fuel price hike protests; 8 killed". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Zimbabwe opposition office torched". BBC. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  13. ^ a b Smaita, Kevin (15 January 2019). "Panicky Zimbabwe government shuts down internet". www.businesslive.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  14. ^ "The Latest: Zimbabwe doctor group reports 68 gunshot wounds". Washington Post. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  15. ^ AFP. "WATCH: Looting of Zimbabwe shops ahead of crackdown". The Citizen. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  16. ^ Auntony, AFP / Fanuel Jongwe / Zinyange. "WATCH: Looting and chaos in Zimbabwe as angry protesters react to massive fuel hike". The Citizen. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  17. ^ January 2019, Mike Schüssler / 16 (16 January 2019). "Zimbabwe strike enters third day as 'excessive force' criticised". Moneyweb. Retrieved 16 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Zimbabwe kills its internet over protests". www.itnewsafrica.com. IT News Africa. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  19. ^ Bureau, U. K. (16 January 2019). "Zimbabwe: Econet Confirms Govt Directive to Block Internet - Masiyiwa Says Opposition Could Have Repealed Law During GNU". New Zimbabwe (London). Retrieved 16 January 2019. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "PICS: Zimbabwe police arrest prominent govt critic Pastor Mawarire". News24. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  21. ^ correspondent, Jason Burke Africa (16 January 2019). "Civilians beaten and abducted in major Zimbabwe crackdown". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 January 2019. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ AFP. "Zimbabwe fuel protests turn deadly". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  23. ^ Bureau, U. K. (15 January 2019). "Zimbabwe: MDC's Harvest House HQ Bombed - Lawyers Say Soldiers in Midnight Raids Against Civilians". New Zimbabwe (London). Retrieved 15 January 2019. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ "Zimbabwe: Updated - MDC Violence Leaves Trail of Destruction". The Herald (Harare). 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  25. ^ Press, Associated. "In harsh crackdown, Zimbabwe police arrest scores as protests grow". latimes.com. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  26. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche (16 January 2019). "Zimbabwe opposition: We are not to blame for the violence". DW.COM. Retrieved 17 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  27. ^ "Logan Cup games called off due to Zimbabwe unrest". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  28. ^ Maughan, Karyn (16 January 2019). "Opposition MDC calls on Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in Zimbabwe crisis". Business Day. Retrieved 16 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  29. ^ "Unlawful lethal force by Zimbabwe security forces should be probed - HRW | IOL News". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  30. ^ African News Agency. "Zimbabweans living in SA protest for Ramaphosa to intervene in Harare". The Citizen. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  31. ^ Dentlinger, Lindsay (15 January 2019). "SA govt must intervene in Zimbabwe crisis - Maimane". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 16 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  32. ^ "Malema's EFF 'extends its solidarity' with the people of Zimbabwe". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  33. ^ "SAFTU: SAFTU supports Zimbabwe general strike and strongly condemns government violence and tyranny". Polity.org.za. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  34. ^ "South Africa 'monitoring' Zimbabwe as troops mount clampdown". www.timeslive.co.za. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  35. ^ Bolowana, Angela (17 January 2019). "Bleak picture of human rights on the African continent: HRW report". SABC News. Retrieved 17 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  36. ^ a b "Response to Civil Unrest Provoked by Fuel Shortages and Price Hikes". U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Britain 'deeply concerned' at Zimbabwe unrest; summons ambassador". Reuters. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  38. ^ AFP (18 January 2018). "EU slams 'disproportionate' use of force in Zimbabwe". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

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