Zimbabwe police break up protest with tear gas, water cannon

Zimbabwe police break up protest with tear gas, water cannon | iNFOnews.ca
A protestor holds a bundle of old Zimbabwean dollar notes as police stand by, during a demonstration against the introduction of bond notes by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, in Harare, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Several protestors were beaten as they took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration aimed at venting their anger and frustrations at the imminent introduction of the notes, which the country's Central Bank says will be equivalent to the United States dollar. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe police have fired tear gas and water cannons to break up protests in the capital for the second time this month.

Anti-government protests have become common in this troubled southern African country amid frustrations over a rapidly deteriorating economy.

Hundreds of people hurried for cover Wednesday as baton-wielding police moved in to disperse activists who were marching to the country’s reserve bank in Harare to protest a currency crisis.

Zimbabwe abandoned its currency in 2009 following hyperinflation, adopting a multi-currency system dominated by the United States dollar.

Dollar shortages have resulted in long lines at banks.

President Robert Mugabe has responded to the recent protests by saying that people who are unhappy with living conditions can leave the country. The 92-year-old has been in power since 1980.

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