Riot policeman undressed by protesters

A policeman was reportedly undressed and lost his uniform and shoes during yesterday bond notes protests in Harare.

The unidentified cop was said to have been attacked while leaving a bank, the Herald reported.

A police vehicle was also stoned during the demonstrations.

The state controlled publication said a massive 4 000 people flooded the streets to cause "mayhem in the city".

It fingered Acie Lumumba of VIVA Zimbabwe, Tajamuka/Sesjikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi, Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngaribvume and members of the Zimbabwe Coalition for Unemployed Graduates (ZCFUG) as chief instigators.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said they are 'disturbed' by the demonstrators.

"What is disturbing is that according to their application through the court, they had said they would carry out a peaceful demonstration, but they ran amok and damaged property, cars and injured innocent people. Police were operating under difficult circumstances since there were about 4 000 people," she said. Violence broke out after police stopped the marchers from proceeding to Parliament, resulting in running battles with the protesters, who fought back using stones.

As police fled, they called for reinforcements, who rushed to the scene with teargas canisters and water cannons and indiscriminately assaulted everyone on sight, including passers-by.

Business momentarily came to a standstill as most shops closed, as tempers flared.

Police then stormed the opposition MDC-T's Harvest House headquarters, where they repeatedly fired teargas along the road to disperse party members gathered at the building.

MDC-T legislators Tabitha Khumalo was rushed to hospital after she succumbed to teargas smoke.