Posts falsely claim video shows crackdown by Zimbabwean police over new currency

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, the main opposition party at the time, was later renamed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (archived here).

AFP photographer Jekesai Njikizana was on the scene when the events unfolded in 2019. In one of his images, a man in red overalls with a matching red backpack stands out amid the police contingent. He also appears in the video currently being shared.

Njikizana’s photograph is captioned: “An anti-riot policeman in Zimbabwe tackles a woman with his boot as they dispersed a crowd gathered to hear an address by leader of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) Alliance, Nelson Chamisa at Morgan Tsvangirai House, the party headquarters, in Harare, on November 20, 2019. Nelson Chamisa was due to address party supporters in his Hope of the Nation Address (HONA). The public address was blocked by riot police who beat up several people as they dispersed.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) won the 2018 elections, an outcome marred by fraud allegations (archived here).

Zimbabwe Gold

As reported by AFP, the ZiG got off to a chaotic start the week it was launched because banks and shops needed more time to transition to the new currency (archived here).

This is the country’s fifth attempt at creating a local currency.

The Zimbabwean dollar, already of little value, became worthless overnight, frustrating citizens on April 9, 2024, who queued for hours outside banks attempting to withdraw their funds.

The Reserve Bank is set to distribute the new notes on April 30, 2024, weeks after it was launched.

This has doubled the cost of goods for locals as shop owners are only accepting US dollars or doubling prices if paid in Zimbabwean dollars (archived here).

On April 23, 2024, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange All Share Index fell more than 99 percent following the introduction of the ZiG (archived here).

Local media also reported that 65 suspected money exchangers appeared in court on allegations of contravening the exchange control regulations (archived here).