Scores of workers, among them labour leaders, were arrested on Wednesday in Zimbabwe’s capital when they gathered to protest at high taxation, inflation and alleged rights abuses.
The protesters were rounded up by heavily armed riot police and made to sit down on the pavement in downtown Harare before they were taken away in police cars.
Riot police have been patrolling the streets of the city centre since early morning on Wednesday.
Eight union leaders were arrested in other cities of Zimbabwe overnight on Tuesday ahead of the planned protest march, Wellington Chibebe president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), said earlier.
Chibebe said the arrests took place in the cities of Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo.
A police spokesperson would not immediately comment on the arrests.
”We are protesting against high taxation, high prices of basic commodities, fuel and shortage of transport,” said Chibebe.
Prices of basic goods have been going up on a weekly basis in Zimbabwe, where inflation is running at more than one percent a day.
In August the annual rate of inflation was officially calculated at 426,6%, but economists believe the true figure is much higher than that.
Chibebe said the unions were also protesting against alleged human and trade union rights violations by authorities.
Under Zimbabwe’s security law, public gatherings and street demonstrations are banned unless permission is obtained in advance from the police. – Sapa-AFP