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Zimbabwe deploys soldiers to back up police officers clashing with protesters

ZIMBABWEAN soldiers were deployed into the capital city Harare today to back up police officers as they clashed with people protesting against the government’s fuel price hike. 

At least 13 people were injured and 12 arrested, human rights lawyers and doctors said.

Three military trucks filled with soldiers were seen heading for a large suburb in south-east Harare. Military helicopters were also seen flying over the city.

The deployment of the military came one month after an official report said police and soldiers had used “unjustified and disproportionate” force to kill six people during election protests in 2018. 

The military’s deployment today was criticised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a group of several non-governmental organisations.

“The move by the government to deploy armed police and soldiers against citizens exercising their democratic right to protest should be condemned in the strongest of terms,” the coalition said.

The government’s tactics “will serve to worsen the current crisis in the country while further alienating the country from the international community,” it said.

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