Bulawayo shutdown protesters freed

Eighty- six Bulawayo residents arrested during July shutdown protests are now free citizens.

The state withdrew charges of committing public violence during the #ShutdownZim2016 anti-government protests.

They were accused of breaking into a supermarket in Mzilikazi and looting some goods.

In the aftermath of the protests, police embarked on a door-to-door witch hunt in Mzilikazi, Burombo Flats and Makokoba high-density suburbs, harassing, beating and arresting teenagers, including minors, accusing them of engaging in street battles with riot cops during the shut-down protests.

Youths armed with only stones fought riot police as they tried to march to the central business district, allegedly to loot Choppies supermarkets associated with Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

Police had to threaten to shoot the protesters to subdue them and restore calm in the city.