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Several thousand anti-government protesters marched Thursday in the Zimbabwean capital under the watchful eye of armed police during the first rally since the deadly crackdown on an election rally in August.
Singing and waving placards denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa, protesters gathered in the center of Harare before sneaking into the streets of the city.
The event, organized with the approval of the police, was organized by the main opposition party, the MDC, which declared that it was deceived in the elections of July 30, eight months after the overthrow of the President Robert Mugabe.
Just days after the elections, six people died when security forces opened fire on protesters, undermining Mnangagwa's efforts to present the vote as a fresh start for the country after years of Mugabe repression.
"Mnangagwa must leave", was read Thursday during a demonstration, alongside the others "You stole my vote, give it to me, I beg you to make it", as well as slogans demanding that justice be done after the electoral firing.
Much of the protesters' anger has been focused on Zimbabwe's recurring economic problems, as people struggle to cope with soaring prices and severe shortages of basic necessities like bread, oil cooking and oil.
The protesters praised MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who claims to be the legitimate winner of the elections.
"The Zimbabweans are suffering, the country does not have any gasoline," he told the crowd.
"When we united against Mugabe, we did not expect that (crisis), our lives are worse.
"We will not fight Mr. Mnangagwa with guns because we do not believe in guns," added Chamisa, the event unfolding peacefully.
Mnangagwa, who took power after Mugabe's forced resignation by the army in November 2017, promised to revive the economy in ruins after his victory in the disputed elections.
The latest economic crisis erupted last month when the government introduced a 2% tax on all electronic transactions to increase revenues.
Many Zimbabweans rely on electronic payments because the US dollar, which is the main currency of the country, is scarce, with almost no one relying on the local currency "bonds".
"We are here to demonstrate against the economic crisis and the elections that have been stolen," said 25-year-old security guard Donald Bango.
"There are no jobs, the current government is doing nothing to solve our problems," he told AFP.
"Commodity prices are rising and we do not have access to drugstore pharmacies," said Rachel Chakanetsa, a 53-year-old widow who was attending the protest.
"We are in extreme poverty and the situation must be resolved urgently."
The protesters petitioned Parliament that Zimbabwe was "in a crisis of endless legitimacy".
He called for the removal of the electronic transfer tax and the bond currency.
Mnangagwa recently revealed that Mugabe, 94, was in Singapore for prolonged medical treatment and was unable to walk due to health problems and old age.
Mugabe was ousted when the military, fearing that his wife Grace would be lined up to succeed him, took control and forced him to resign.
His 37-year reign was marked by corruption and mismanagement that led to an exodus of investors, massive emigration and the collapse of many public services.
Mnangagwa is a loyalist supported by the ruling party's army, Zanu-PF, who was previously vice president of Mugabe.
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