Zimbabwe president cuts short foreign tour over protests

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa broke off a foreign tour on January 20, saying he wanted his country "calm, stable and working again" as criticism grew over a brutal crackdown in response to protests.

Mnangagwa appeared to take a more conciliatory approach than his spokesman George Charamba, who said crackdown was "just a foretaste of things to come", as allegations mount up of shootings, beatings and abductions of opposition figures, activists and ordinary people.

security forces' operation has underlined fears of a return to violent repression of Robert Mugabe, who was ousted from power by military 14 months ago.

At least 12 people were killed and 78 treated for gunshot injuries over last week, according to Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, which recorded more than 240 incidents of assault and torture.

UN has criticised government reaction to protests, which were triggered by a sharp hike in fuel prices.

Mnangagwa, who was seeking much-needed foreign investment on tour, anunced his return on Twitter, scrapping plans to attend Davos summit of world leers this week.

"In light of ecomic situation, I will be returning home after a highly productive week of bilateral tre and investment meetings," he said.

" first priority is to get Zimbabwe calm, stable and working again." He was in Kazakhstan on Sunday after travelling to Russia last Monday and n heing to Belarus and Azerbaijan.

Violent demonstrations erupted across Zimbabwe on January 14 after Mnangagwa anunced petrol prices would more than double in a country that suffers daily shorts of banktes, fuel, food and medicine.

He flew to Russia soon after making that anuncement in a televised dress to nation.

Since January 14, about 700 people have been arrested, internet has been temporarily shut down twice, and social media remain largely blocked.

United Nations human rights office on January 18 urged Harare to "stop crackdown" and voiced alarm over security forces' "excessive use of force" which included reports of m using live ammunition.

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It called on Zimbabwe's government "to find ways of engaging with population about ir legitimate grievances".

army and police held a joint press conference late January 19 to deny any misconduct, saying some assailants raiding homes were wearing official uniforms to pose as security personnel.

Mnangagwa, 76, h pledged a fresh start for country when he came to power in vember 2017 after Mugabe was toppled, ending 37 years in office that were marked by authoritarian rule and ecomic collapse.

But Zimbabweans have seen little evidence of promised ecomic revival or increased political freedoms.

Charamba, who was also Mugabe's spokesman, ded " state must deal with" MDC opposition party and tre unions, which he said h "unleashed" violence.

Charamba accused MDC leer Nelson Chamisa of seeking to win power "on blood of Zimbabwean people" by trying to overturn Mnangagwa's July election victory.

" MDC and its affiliate organisations will be held fully accountable for violence and looting," Charamba, who is travelling with Mnangagwa, told Sunday News.

Chamisa tweeted on Friday that his party was "committed to peace in solving challenges that triggered turmoil".

"Our country is going through one of its worst moments. My thoughts are with victims of violence," he ded.

South Africa, where hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled to seek work over last 20 years, said Sunday that it was working to assist its neighbour, without giving details.

"If situation is t attended to, current ecomic challenges can derail political and ecomic progress country has me since election of new president," South African foreign minister Lindiwe Sisulu said.

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