THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 Freedom to demonstrate and excessive force to crush protests exposing the knack for violence in the policing system. However, petition Law enforcement agencies continued with the use brute force when either quelling peaceful demonstrations and protests or dealing with vendors. Protests were held mostly by activist challenging the government to address the deteriorating socio economic and political crisis. ZRP resorted to using following the 15th November 2017 military coup, Zimbabweans were allowed to march against Robert Mugabe. Zimbabweans from all walks of life, including opposition political leaders and social movements marched peacefully and demanded Mugabe’s resignation. Riot police watch a man with a Zimbabwean flag over his shoulders saluting during a protest in Harare, 2016 Pic Shepherd Tozvireva Specific Cases On 12 July 2017, protesting MDC-T youths were violently disrupted by anti-riot police along the streets of Harare.The victims intended to present a petition to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on issues of electoral reforms. The victims were attacked with water cannons; rubber bullets baton sticks, booted feet and teargas, as they were gathering near the ZEC offices. Five of the victims had several gunshot (multiple lead pellets) wounds, eight were severely assaulted and two MDC-T youth leaders were arrested, detained and charged with malicious destruction of property. One of these victims was accused of murdering a police officer on 29 June 2017. 32 On 29 September 2017, members of the police violently quelled a demonstration in Harare organized by the ARTUZ under the banner, #Pockets Out/ #Izikhwama Pandle/ #Homwe Panze. The people were protesting cash shortages and the deteriorating economic conditions. The State responded by deploying heavily armed anti-riot police with teargas canisters, button sticks, shields and dressed in black combat regalia. Areas such as Town House, Africa Unity Square and Copacabana had heavy police presence. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political and Human Rights Violations Report, July 2017, available on http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/ 32 28