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Police fire tear gas at protesters in Zimbabwe's capital

Monday, 04 July 2016 1:25 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 04 July 2016 1:25 PM ]

Zimbabwean protesters shout political slogans and hold placards during a protest against the Zimbabwean government on May 28, 2016 in Bulawayo. (AFP photo)

Police in Zimbabwe have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesting drivers in the capital amid deteriorating economic conditions in the South African country.

The violence erupted on Monday when the protesters blocked roads leading into the center of Zimbabwe's capital of Harare and started throwing stones at police and their vehicles.

According to reports, many of the protesters were young men who couldn’t find a regular job and make a living by charging a small fee to load passengers into minibuses.

The drivers expressed their anger over numerous roadblocks that police set up in the streets of the capital, forcing drivers to pay bribes.

This is while Zimbabwean police recently promised to decrease the number of roadblocks following complaints lodged by parliamentarians, tourism operators and city drivers.

The Monday clashes came amid a surge in protests by Zimbabweans over the past weeks over against economic hardship and alleged mismanagement by the government of President Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe delivers his speech during Zimbabwe's 36th independence celebrations in Harare, April, 18, 2016. (AP photo)

On Friday, a group of demonstrators staged an anti-government protest rally against some restrictions on importation of basic commodities and burned a warehouse at Beitbridge, a busy border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Back in April, thousands of supporters of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party attended a demonstration in Harare, calling for Mugabe’s resignation.

The opposition says the 92-year-old president has failed to properly address issues such as economic decline, mass unemployment and emigration in Zimbabwe while accusations have also been high about repression of dissent and vote-rigging during his tenure.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since the nation’s independence in 1980. He has promised that he will run again for presidency in 2018.

The veteran president often blames the West for Zimbabwe's troubles.

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