Zimbabwe police carnage: Beitbridge riots claim whole station

Scores of Zimbabwe Republic Police officers who where stationed in Beitbridge during July 1 border shutdown have been transferred with some being demoted while others fired, Bulawayo24.com has heard.

It is understood that authorities were not impressed with the handling of the protests by the police.

Police arrested several suspects accused of masterminding the protests.

A Zimra warehouse was burnt down by protesters.

The protests were the first riots to cause the closure of the border post since its establishment in 1929 when the Alfred Beitbridge linking South Africa and Zimbabwe was opened.

In the aftermath, national security commanders were said to be on high alert, keeping a close eye on developments.

After the riots Home Affairs deputy minister Obedingwa Mguni said the protests in Beitbridge were politically-motivated.

"If you look at these protests, they are being sponsored by other malcontents who have different agendas. They are running concurrently with other demonstrations and it's clear that these are sponsored demonstrations," Mguni is quoted as saying.