Police leave activist for dead
By Blessings Mashaya
National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) chairperson Sten Zvorwadza was yesterday admitted in hospital after heavily-armed police brutally attacked him while he was protesting at the Harare Central Police Station.
Zvorwadza was demonstrating against police’s ruthless actions on vendors and pro-democracy activists.
“I have been admitted at Avenues Clinic. The doctors are checking my back, neck and head,” he told the Daily News, adding that “I will continue with the protests”.
The brutal action by the police came just a day after protestors, including Zvorwadza and Tajamuka were thrashed by police.
The protestors were up in arms over the pending introduction of bond notes.
The police pounced on Zvorwadza and activist Patson Dzamara just after they started their demonstration in front of the Harare Central Police Station.
The officers came in numbers to beat up the helpless Zvorwadza, who was holding flowers, before he was left unconscious for nearly five minutes.
It took the help of intelligence officers who came to stop the police.
After regaining consciousness, Zvorwadza shouted: “We came here to offer you peace and love not violence”, before he was escorted away by State security agents.
Just after the incident, another protestor was arrested by the police.
Prior to the protest, Zvorwadza said the demonstration was meant to demilitarise the police.
“The demonstration is the first of its kind in the history of the country. The police must stop being used by politicians; they must know that they are there to protect us not to intimidate people.”
“The police must know that things will change. Zanu PF will not remain in power forever, it’s high time for them to stop protecting people who are destroying the nation.” Daily News
