Zimbabwe: Police disperse ZANU-PF supporters in Harare May 23

Event

Riot police forcibly dispersed 200 Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) supporters at the party headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, May 23. The ZANU-PF demonstrators were reportedly protesting their inability to vote in the recent primary elections, and had vowed to continue their protest until President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed their grievances. Additional election-related demonstrations and clashes between protesters and security forces are expected ahead of the July elections. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated near any potential protests.

Context

Presidential and parliamentary elections will take place in July, according to an announcement by President Mnangagwa. These elections, the specific date for which has not yet been set, will be the first held since Robert Mugabe stepped down as president in November 2017 after 37 years in power. Mnangagwa has invited all political parties to a roundtable to commit to a non-violent electoral process and invited Western observers to oversee the elections.

Mugabe resigned after the parliament launched impeachment proceedings against him; he had initially refused to step down despite intense pressure from the ruling ZANU-PF party and the military after nearly a week of political uncertainty. The political crisis was sparked when Mugabe fired then-Vice President Mnangagwa on November 6, widely seen as clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to take over the position and eventually the presidency. On November 15, Zimbabwe's military took control of the government but denied that the takeover amounted to a "coup."

Advice

Individuals in Zimbabwe, particularly in Harare, are advised to avoid large public gatherings, even those expected to remain peaceful, and to monitor local developments.