Ahead of the 44th session of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare on August 17, the Zimbabwean government has deployed soldiers and police officers in residential areas to maintain peace and order.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the deployments, stating that they are “normal” police actions to “assure police visibility” in areas where needed. Nyathi said the deployments could be extended to other areas if necessary.
In Chitungwiza, a dormitory town near Harare, there was a heavy presence of police and soldiers yesterday. Residents reported seeing convoys of police and military vehicles, with soldiers in full gear and police armed with water cannons, batons, and guns. This left many residents in a state of shock, as they went into a self-imposed curfew, with bars closing early and vendors forced to leave their stalls.
“There is limited loitering here,” a resident at St Mary’s shopping center said. “People are afraid of the soldiers. There is a lot of uncertainty, so people are staying indoors to be safe.”
The government’s security measures come as it has also launched a crackdown on activists suspected of plotting protests ahead of the SADC summit. Dozens of political and human rights activists have been arrested as part of this intensified effort.
While the police claim the deployments are routine to ensure public safety, the heavy-handed presence of security forces has left many residents in Chitungwiza and other areas feeling uneasy and uncertain about the situation.
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