Squads of police armed with batons, riot shields, and tear gas have rounded up thousands of street traders, traffic violators, foreign-currency dealers, and other urban residents across the southern African nation of Zimbabwe in recent days. Nearly 10,000 people have been arrested as part of a dragnet called “Operation Restore Order.” The moves come eight weeks after President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won a solid majority in elections that critics say were flawed. Now that Mr. Mugabe has total control of Zimbabwe’s political scene, he may be trying to gain complete control over the country’s foundering economy, observers say – while also preventing postelection discontent from morphing into full-scale street protests.Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.