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2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests
Protests in Zimbabwe / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests began in Zimbabwe on 6 July 2016. Thousands of Zimbabweans protested government repression, poor public services, high unemployment, widespread corruption and delays in civil servants receiving their salaries.[3][4] A national strike, named "stay-away day," began on 6 July[5] and subsequent protests took place across the country and diaspora.
2016 Zimbabwe protests | |||
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![]() Zimbabweans protesting in Cape Town, South Africa in support of the 2016 Zimbabwe protests taking place in Zimbabwe at the time. | |||
Date | 6 July 2016 – 21 November 2017 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Corruption, hunger, late payment of civil servants' salaries, economic repression, police brutality | ||
Goals | Firing corrupt ministers, the removal of police checkpoints, paying civil servants on time, stopping the introduction of bond notes, regime change, release of arrested activists, stopping police brutality | ||
Methods | Civil resistance, demonstrations, protest marches, rioting, picketing | ||
Resulted in | Robert Mugabe resigns as President of Zimbabwe following the military takeover of the country | ||
Parties | |||
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Lead figures | |||
Casualties and losses | |||
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The Zimbabwean government blamed Western governments for the protests and were accused of blocking social media such as WhatsApp from 9 am until 11 am on 6 July 2016[6] to prevent people from gathering to protest.[7]
On 18 November 2017, anti-Mugabe solidarity protests were held in Zimbabwe and other countries, following the military takeover of the country on 15 November. On 21 November, Robert Mugabe sent a letter to Zimbabwe's Parliament resigning the presidency.[8]