ZANU-PF provincial executive member for Matebeleland North and former Tsholotsho Senator, Believe Gaule, has dismissed suggestions of an unfolding coup saying the lockdown of Bulawayo on Tuesday resulted.
State security forces on Tuesday morning forced Bulawayo residents in the central business district to go back home amid reports of a planned protest by some citizens over the deteriorating economic situation in the country and alleged human rights abuses.
According to residents, armed soldiers and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) detained several people who confronted them on their motive in blocking people from accessing cash in banks and buying food supplies.
Gaule said the state intelligence had picked up chatter that some activists were planning a flash protest in the usually quiet city as the security in Harare has of late been too tight to launch street protests.
“The security picked an intelligence report that there were planned spontaneous flash protests led by the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union and others. They then blocked the city in a bid to avert what happened in January 14/16 last year where over 100 shops in Bulawayo were destroyed.
“Please take note that some of the videos circulating saying there is violence and looting are lies being peddled by desperate people. The rumours about a coup are false as this happened only in Bulawayo and the president does not live in Bulawayo,” said the Zanu-PF top official.
The Zimbabwe National Security Council recently dismissed as “false”, reports that the army linked to top government officials and some people, including MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala and several nonprofit organizations, were planning to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Several residents expressed dismay over the current situation, saying people’s rights are being violated by state security forces.
Reverend Useni Sibanda of the Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe said, “The clampdown this morning and closure of central business district is another worrying example of how civil liberties are being trampled upon under the cover of COVID-19 measures.
“Poor desperate people who had come to collect cash from the banks were chased away. If government is now shutting down surely this should be communicated.”
Movement for Democratic Alliance activist, Edwin Ndlovu, said the situation is tense but calm in the city.
“Today in Bulawayo the army and the police were chasing people away from the city telling them that they were not earning enough to go to work therefore business was closed in Bulawayo.
“Those who asked why they were being chased away from the city were assaulted and some detained by the army at Matshobana, Mzilikazi and near Amakhosi.
“Last time when the army did this the next day our Harvest House offices in Harare were invaded at night and we suspect they might want to repeat this in Bulawayo.”
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment.
