Zimbabwe

Police beat and arrest protestors

Article published on the 2008-12-03 Latest update 2008-12-04 09:09 TU

Cholera sufferers in Harare
(Photo: Reuters)

Police violently repressed two simultaneous demonstrations in Harare Wednesday. Trade unionists were protesting against cash withdrawal limits in banks while doctors and nurses were calling on the government to do more to combat the worsening cholera crisis.

Dozens were arrested as baton-wielding riot police broke up the protest marches.

The unrest comes as the death toll of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic rose to 565, a jump of 81 since Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. The number of reported cases has risen to 12,546.

The rampant inflation rate has led to widespread cash shortages and many transactions can now only be conducted in US dollars.

The central bank has tried to counter the impact by regularly introducing new currency denominations. Bills of up to 100 million Zimbabwean dollars (836 euros) are now available.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Wednesday condemned the arrests of the unionists, saying the protests were justified by the daily cash withdrawal limit of 500,000 Zimbabwean dollars (4.18 euros),