This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
June 18, 2020
Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, was among the cities sealed by security forces amid claims of plots to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government.
Armed soldiers and police set up checkpoints on major roads in Harare, Bulawayo, and Kwekwe, beginning Monday, forcing government buses to drop off passengers at the checkpoints.
Only health workers and members of security forces were allowed to proceed.
President Mnangagwa's spokesman, George Charamba, said the lockdown was meant to stop an uprising, citing 'information and threats' that civilians would not know about.
However, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa linked the military activities to the ongoing lockdown to slow down the spread of coronavirus.
"As much as our president has opened the economy, we will make sure that we adhere to the containment measures, otherwise the disease will spread," Mrs Mutsvangwa said.
Army spokesman Overson Mugwisi said the military was only helping police to enforce lockdown regulations.
The military activities coincided with threats of protests by civil servants over salary cuts and a peaceful protest by health workers in Harare over poor work conditions.
