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Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, called for a "national dialogue" and promised an investigation into the widespread violence perpetrated by security forces in recent days, after interrupting a trip abroad.
The brutal crackdown following last week's protests against the doubling of fuel prices has led to sporadic riots and looting.
The army and police seem to have targeted leaders and sympathizers of major opposition parties, as well as union officials and high-level civil society activists, rather than suspected thieves.
At least 12 people were killed and 78 were treated for gunshot wounds, according to the human rights NGO forum in Zimbabwe, which has recorded more than 240 badaults and torture. About 700 people have been arrested and are still in detention, including 11 opposition MPs.
The violence was most prevalent since the authoritarian Robert Mugabe regime, which has lasted 37 years, ended in November 2017 with an army takeover, and wiped out any hope of political reform.
Mnangagwa returned to Harare Monday night, barring a visit to Europe and Central Asia to generate investment.
Human rights organizations said the raids were continuing in the early hours of Tuesday, although the websites and social media seem partly back to normal after being closed by the authorities for several days.
There was also more traffic in the center of the big cities, although a significant number of soldiers remained in the streets.
Mnangagwa, who won the contested elections in July, said the insubordination of the security forces was intolerable and that "if it were necessary, the heads would fall."
"The violence or wrongdoing of our security forces is unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe," said the 76-year-old ruling party's pillar in a statement posted on social media. "Chaos and insubordination will not be tolerated. The misconduct will be the subject of an investigation. "
He also criticized the protests last week.
"Everyone has the right to demonstrate, but it was not a peaceful protest. Free violence and cynical destruction; looting of police stations, theft of firearms and uniforms; incitement and threats of violence. This is not the Zimbabwean way, "said Mnangagwa, who was advised in his communications by a team of international consultants.
The president defended rising fuel prices, saying it was "not a decision we took lightly. But it was the right thing to do.
Fuel in Zimbabwe is heavily subsidized and officials said the money saved by rising prices would be redirected to the purchase of staples.
The protests were fueled by chronic shortages of banknotes, fuel, food and medicine.
What is happening in Zimbabwe? – video reportage
Mugabe's government left Zimbabwe with huge debts, ruined infrastructure and rising unemployment, especially among young people. Most of its 16 million people live from day to day or survive on remittances from the vast diaspora. Inflation has reached 40%.
Mnangagwa traveled to Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan before cutting off his trip, which included attending the summit of world leaders in Davos this week.
After the end of Mugabe's reign, there was general optimism about the end of the repression of previous decades, but any hope of political reform was extinguished. The crisis has provoked strong criticism from Western states and will undermine Zimbabwe's efforts to join the international community.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nations Human Rights Office have criticized the government's response to the unrest.
The army and the police denied any wrongdoing, claiming that some of those who had invaded the houses and beaten people were imposters wearing stolen uniforms.
Analysts are divided on whether the crisis provides new evidence of the split of the ruling Zanu-PF and top government officials.
The vice president, Constantino Chiwenga, former radical general of the army, was in command during the absence of Mnangagwa. He was accused of deploying soldiers who shot six civilians in Harare two days after the elections last year.
Some observers believe that Chiwenga is looking forward to the more moderate line adopted by Mnangagwa, which they believe wants to gain international legitimacy.
Others believe that the president and his deputy have adopted a carefully coordinated "good cop, bad cop" strategy that allows domestic repression without harming Mnangagwa's reputation abroad.
The Harare High Court ruled on Monday that the government had no power to shut down the internet and ordered that it be restored.
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