Zimbabwe crackdown a sign of things to come, president's spokesman warns

Police patrol in Harare, Zimbabwe, January 20, 2019. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

HARARE (Reuters) - A crackdown last week on protests in Zimbabwe is a foretaste of how the government will respond to future unrest, the president's spokesman said, fuelling concerns that the southern African country is reverting to authoritarian rule.

Police say three people died during the demonstrations in Harare's capital and second city Bulawayo that turned violent. But human rights groups say evidence suggests at least a dozen people were killed while scores were treated for gunshot wounds and hundreds were detained.