'August And January Violence A Problem For Zimbabwe’s Reputation In Europe'

European Union (EU) ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen described the 2018 post-election and mid-January 2019 military killings as a problem to Zimbabwe’s international relations.

Speaking at the public press committee at a local hotel in the capital Olkkonen said:

The violence in August and January was a setback for our relations, and we will not shy away from this. It was also a problem for Zimbabwe’s reputation in Europe – and we need to talk about this, also with the government. There can’t be impunity.

On 1 August 2018 6 civilians were killed after violence engulfed Harare following reports of Presidential election outcome manipulation. In January 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a 150 percent fuel price hike prompting  countrywide protests led by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Again the military was deployed leaving at least 17 people dead according to a Human Rights NGO Forum report.

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