Market Square, Fourth Street Rank (Simon Muzenda), Coppa Cabanna and ZEC Headquarters at corner Jason Moyo Avenue and Harare Street. e. The Police officers deployed on that day were not armed and were under the command of constables. It was only at ZEC headquarters where the team there was armed with button sticks and tear smoke and was under the command of an Assistant Inspector. f. The one hundred and sixty seven (167) deployed Police officers included the team from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit. g. The orders given to the Police officers were to disperse any gatherings using button sticks, tear smoke and water cannons as the gatherings had not been sanctioned in terms of Public Order and Security Act (POSA). h. The Police did not immediately disperse the demonstrators who were gathering at different spots in the CBD as they were initially peaceful. i. As the day progressed, the crowds kept swelling and at one time the police estimated them to be about four thousand (4000) people. j. At about midday, the Police observed that the demonstrators who had split into different groups had become violent and were now armed with various weapons including stones, planks and metal rods. k. The Police efforts to disperse the demonstrators using tear smoke did not succeed as the demonstrators would retreat and return with more determination. l. The demonstrators not only intensified their violence against the Police but also continued and were ordering businesses to close, pulling down market stalls, barricading roads and uprooting traffic signs and lights. m. Even the use of water cannons and firing of twenty five (25) rounds in the air at ZANU PF Provincial Headquarters failed to disperse the demonstrators. 25 25