2. “OPERATION RESTORE FEAR”: PATTERNS OF KEY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED On 12 January, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced fuel price hikes, which took effect on 13 January.30 The prices of both diesel and petrol, which power the main means of private and public transportation of people and are a major component in the cost of all consumer goods in Zimbabwe, went up by 150 per cent. Many were shocked by the hefty fuel hikes and their negative knock-on effects. The President then left the country for Europe on a five-nation tour and to attend the World Economic Forum to look for investment under the banner of ‘Zimbabwe is open for business.’31 In response to President Mnangagwa’s announcement, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the largest labour organization in the country, called for a three-day national stay-away protest action. ZCTU’s President, Peter Mutasa, called on Zimbabweans to stay away from work, businesses and schools from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 January, to protest what he called ‘the general astronomical price increases since last year against stagnant salaries.’ He added that the fuel price increases were “insensitive and provocative”.32 When the news of the planned national stay away surfaced, the authorities declared that the government would “not accept a situation where opposition parties disguise themselves as NGOs (Nongovernmental organizations) or as civic groups both to secure condonation for unlawful acts such as sponsoring civil unrest.”33 Many Zimbabweans across the country heeded this call by ZCTU for a national stay-away action, staying at home from 14 - 16 January, including in the main cities of Harare and Bulawayo bringing business to a standstill in major parts of the country. In turn, main cities such as Harare and Bulawayo resembled ghost towns with pockets of pickets in certain parts of these cities. As outlined in sections below, the protest set in motion one of the most brutal crackdowns by the authorities seen in recent years in Zimbabwe, the apparent attempt to restore fear in Zimbabwe. The government deployed both military, police and intelligence units in cities and residential areas including Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Epworth, Dzivarasekwa, Mbare, Gweru, Pumula, and Mabvuku. Witnesses have told Amnesty International of widespread beatings, deprivation of personal liberty, torture and other ill-treatment such as being made to roll in sewage or ashes from burnt Mnangagwa announced the fuel price increase to the nation, something which ought to have been done by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/01/13/eds-statement-on-new-fuel-prices-3-31-petrol-and-3-11-diesel/ 31 Mnangagwa went to Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and was scheduled to travel to Davos before calling off his trip on 20 January in order to return home to attend to the crisis 32 Statement issued by the ZCTU President Peter Mutasa, https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/economic-crisis-workers-govt-drawdaggers/ , 13 January 2019 33 Statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana in the Herald newspaper, www.herald.co.zw 13 January 2019 30 ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS, CLOSED FOR DISSENT’ CRACKDOWN IN ZIMBABWE DURING THE NATIONAL STAY-AWAY, 14-16 JANUARY 2019 Amnesty International 8