Mnangagwa's comments were his first on the strife which has wracked Zimbabwe for over a week, during which the President was largely absent. He arrived back in Harare Tuesday from Switzerland, where he had been due to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting.
"One week ago I announced measures to stabilize our nation's crucial fuel supply. I was aware that these measures may not be popular, and this was not a decision we took lightly. But it was the right thing to do," Mnangagwa said on Twitter.
"What followed was regrettable and tragic. Everyone has the right to protest, but this was not a peaceful protest. Wanton violence and cynical destruction; looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms; incitement and threats of violence. This is not the Zimbabwean way."
He added that "violence or misconduct by our security forces is unacceptable and a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe. Chaos and insubordination will not be tolerated. Misconduct will be investigated. If required, heads will roll."
Deadly violence
Protests started last week after the government announced a 150% fuel price hike, and quickly turned violent amid a fierce clampdown by security forces.
At least five people were shot by police and another 25 wounded during battles with protesters in the Zimbabwean capital. Human rights organizations blamed the police and the army for the violence.
The country's internet was also cut off, with many Zimbabweans unable to access social media or check the news for updates on the protests.
On Sunday, the leader, who last year replaced longtime strongman Robert Mugabe, signaled his intention to return early from the annual World Economic Forum jamboree in the Swiss alpine resort town of Davos.
He said that he did so "after a highly productive week of bilateral trade and investment meetings," leaving his Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube, to continue talks as the WEF meeting begins in earnest.
He returns to a nation in engulfed in turmoil. On Monday, Japhet Moyo, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions -- which has been involved in organizing the protests -- was arrested at Harare's main airport on Monday and faces charges of subversion.
Moyo was not aware that he was wanted by the police, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights spokesman Tinashe Mundawarara told CNN.
His union was one of the main groups calling for a general strike after the announcement of the massive fuel price hike in Zimbabwe.
Also on Monday, the country's High Court ruled that mobile operators should restore unrestricted access to mobile and internet services immediately, following a days-long blackout.
Judge Owen Tagu told the court that it had "become very clear that the minister has no authority to make the directive" and ordered mobile operators to "unconditionally resume the provision of the full and unrestricted services to all subscribers forthwith."
Mnangagwa joins a growing list of world leaders who will not be in attendance at Davos.
US President Donald Trump decided the US delegation would remain at home, and British Prime Minister Theresa May canceled her visit to focus on the UK's Brexit plan.
French President Emmanuel Macron -- who, like Mnangagwa, is trying to quell violent street protests -- is also skipping the forum. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be absent.
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