Bulawayo on high alert after social media scare

By Staff reporter | 02 Jun 2019 at 18:16hrs
Social media
POLICE here have been out in full force and on high alert since Thursday in anticipation of a possible outbreak of violence.

The immense reaction by the law enforcers came after social media was awash with messages from unidentified people calling for yet another round of national shutdown protests similar to the January protests owing to the worsening economic situation in the country.

While it was business as usual in the second city, a survey by this publication showed that police have been manning roadblocks on most of the major roads leading to the city centre, something that was no longer common in the city.

Tankers and anti-riot police could be seen patrolling the city centre as well as some parts of the high density suburbs in a clear sign of how the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led regime is now having sleepless nights over the possible outbreak of demonstrations.

Not to be left out were police in civilian clothes as well as intelligence officers who were making frantic efforts to make sure that all hot spots are well monitored.

This is not the first time that police here have been sold a dummy by social media users.

Last week, police summoned commuter transport association leaders at Ross Camp after a fake social media message alleging that they wanted to withdraw their vehicles from the road following fuel increase as well as the slashing of Zupco buses fares by 50 percent.

The panicky move by the government on protests follows a recent statement by MDC president Nelson Chamisa that they will soon roll out massive demonstrations to force Mnangagwa out.

Chamisa's statements have not been taken lightly by the government which has since indicated that it will descend ruthlessly on all violence mongers.

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