Zimbabwe president abandons Davos trip amid unrest

• Posted on January 22, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has broken off a trip to Europe after violent protests in his home country.

Mr Mnangagwa had been due to attend the Davos economic summit where he was expected to seek investment for Zimbabwe.

Ministers say the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is using sharp fuel price increases as a pretext for violence.

But the MDC accuses the authorities of a brutal crackdown.

Mr Mnangagwa’s announcement of a steep increase in the fuel price over a week ago led to angry protests in the capital, Harare, and the south-western city of Bulawayo.

Rights groups say at least 12 people have been killed but this has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Mnangagwa arrived back in Harare late on Monday night.

He condemned the demonstrations, saying “everyone has the right to protest, but this was not a peaceful protest”.

He accused protesters of “wanton violence and cynical destruction” and “looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms”.

Source: BBC