Jan. 21, 2019
Soldiers have continued to maintain a high presence in residential areas around the country, harassing civilians and, in most cases, beating them up without explanation, as opposition MPs and activists, who are yet to be arrested for allegedly inciting public violence, have gone into hiding. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles, the soldiers, who were moving in truckloads, besieged Ruwa and assaulted dozens of men in the area, forcing a few shops that had opened to close, while many fled their homes. Even those disembarking from public transport were being beaten up and told to stay indoors. In Budiriro, according to Human Rights Forum: Soldiers fired two shots at a kombi (commuter omnibus), targeting the driver, resulting in an accident. Also in the Avenues area of Harare and Mufakose, there were reports of soldiers moving around terrorising people amid fears of another shutdown.