President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned the police boss over the shooting that saw cops kill two civilians on Thursday night.

The incident made angers to rise against the police force.

Speaking yesterday, Mnangagwa was firm with the Head of the Police Comm Gen Godwin Matanga.

President Mnangagwa said such disturbances should not happen again.

“From the onset, let me categorically state that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is seized with this matter and I have since directed a team of expert investigators to extensively establish the cause, what transpired, who was responsible and action will be taken,” he said.

“These investigators will leave no stone unturned. Perpetrators will be brought to book and there are no sacred cows. Violence in whatever form is not tolerated.”

Comm-Gen Matanga said the clashes were between the police and members of the public.

It was a culmination of an operation code-named Clean-Up Harare Central Business District, spearheaded by the City of Harare.

Comm-Gen Matanga said the police and other security agencies were assisting the Harare City Council to decongest the city centre of commuter omnibuses and pirate taxis.

“At around 1730hrs, a press statement was issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, directing that the operation should be stopped,” he said. “As the directive was given, the police and other security agencies were still in the middle of the operation, enforcing the ban and unaware of the cancellation.

“A team of police officers from Harare Central was confronted by an angry mob armed with stones, concrete pillars and rods. The crowd started to throw stones at the police officers whilst demanding to know why they had earlier on dispersed them alongside Harare Municipal Police.”

Comm-Gen Matanga said the crowd advanced aggressively towards the police, throwing stones, resulting in the officers firing warning shots, which could not deter the advancing mob.

“It was at this stage that the police officers fired shots that unfortunately killed two people and injured four others,” he said.

“In the ensuing violence, three police officers were seriously injured, a police vehicle was severely damaged and two others were burnt, several other cars were stoned and property worth thousands of dollars was extensively damaged.”

Comm-Gen Matanga said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

He appealed to anyone who could assist with the identification of the bodies to contact their nearest police station, since the two did not have identification particulars.

Meanwhile, Comm-Gen Matanga has said police will not condone any form of violence.

His remarks were in reference to this week’s attack on MDC-T vice president Dr Thokozani Khupe and other officials in intra-party violence at the funeral of party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in Buhera.

“In a similar incident that occurred in Buhera at the burial of the late MDC-T leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, Dr Thokozani Khupe and other officials were assaulted, threatened with death by fellow party supporters,” he said.

“The ZRP will not tolerate any form of violence whether intra-party or inter-party and we are again investigating this matter and the perpetrators of this violence will be brought to book. As we approach the 2018 harmonised elections, let me appeal to all Zimbabweans to be peaceful as they campaign, before, during and after elections.”

Comm-Gen Matanga said people should heed President Mnangagwa’s call for peace and tolerance to opposing views and respect for the rule of law.