Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa accused western countries of supporting violent countrywide protests in January that were sparked by a huge rise in fuel prices.
Said Mnangagwa:
We regret the loss of life but we needed to protect property as well as other citizens not involved in the protests. We have told the western countries that they cannot turn around and raise concerns when they are the ones sponsoring the violence.
Police have arrested more than 1100 people, including opposition lawmakers, trade unionists and even some children as part of a violent crackdown. The crackdown has been criticised by the US, the European Union and Britain as well as by rights groups.
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