Zimbabwe lockdown amid virus and anti-govt protest

Streets were empty in Zimbabwe's cities and towns on Friday, with security nts maintaining a strong presence to enforce coronavirus lockdown and also thwart an anti-government protest. In capital Harare, which rmally would be teeming with people, downtown area was deserted and businesses were closed.

Soldiers and police in trucks, on foot and on horseback patrolled both city centre and suburbs. Or security nts manned checkpoints to stop people from entering city.  Organisers say demonstrators originally planned to protest alleged government corruption but are w targeting country's ruling political party, ZANU-PF.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa described planned protests as "an insurrection to overthrow our democratically elected government." Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as ecomy implodes. Inflation is more than 700 percent, second highest in world.