Security tight ahead of Zimbabwe protests

HARARE – Armed police fanned out across Harare yesterday, conducting body searches and spot checks of cars at roadblocks, in a bid to thwart a series of protests against Zimbabwe’s mounting economic crisis.

Thousands of protestors were expected to try and defy a ban on unauthorised political protests by taking part in marches across the country, organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The protests were due to begin at around noon (1000 GMT) in the first test of strength of the opposition to veteran President Robert Mugabe since a bitter split in the ranks of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last November.ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe insisted that the protestors would not be deterred by the security forces, although only two labour unions had so far confirmed their participation.The ZCTU is demanding minimum wages and salaries in line with the poverty threshold, income tax cuts, and easy access to antiretroviral drugs.It is also calling for an end to the arbitrary arrests and beatings of street hawkers and self-employed citizens.”We are ready to take to the streets,” Chibebe told AFP.”Despite threats by the police to crush us, we will not be deterred.Are we not already being crushed by hunger and poverty?” National police spokesman Wayne Bzudzijena however said the authorities would not allow any disruption to daily life.”The police will be out in full force to maintain peace and order,” Bzudzijena told AFP.”Those who want to go about their normal, legitimate business in town can do so without fear.”Zimbabwe’s economy has been heading downhill for the last six years, characterised by triple-digit inflation, high unemployment and chronic shortages of fuel, and other basics such as cooking oil and sugar.However the opposition to the octogenarian Mugabe has been unable to take advantage of the crisis, with the MDC splitting into rival factions over its leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision to boycott senate polls last November.MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said the movement would “fully support the ZCTU strike”.”The working people of Zimbabwe, being the ZCTU membership, are the core constituency of our party.In this regard, the MDC and its members will take part in the workers’ action,” he said in a statement.Nampa-AFPThe protests were due to begin at around noon (1000 GMT) in the first test of strength of the opposition to veteran President Robert Mugabe since a bitter split in the ranks of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last November.ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe insisted that the protestors would not be deterred by the security forces, although only two labour unions had so far confirmed their participation.The ZCTU is demanding minimum wages and salaries in line with the poverty threshold, income tax cuts, and easy access to antiretroviral drugs.It is also calling for an end to the arbitrary arrests and beatings of street hawkers and self-employed citizens.”We are ready to take to the streets,” Chibebe told AFP.”Despite threats by the police to crush us, we will not be deterred.Are we not already being crushed by hunger and poverty?” National police spokesman Wayne Bzudzijena however said the authorities would not allow any disruption to daily life.”The police will be out in full force to maintain peace and order,” Bzudzijena told AFP.”Those who want to go about their normal, legitimate business in town can do so without fear.”Zimbabwe’s economy has been heading downhill for the last six years, characterised by triple-digit inflation, high unemployment and chronic shortages of fuel, and other basics such as cooking oil and sugar.However the opposition to the octogenarian Mugabe has been unable to take advantage of the crisis, with the MDC splitting into rival factions over its leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision to boycott senate polls last November.MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said the movement would “fully support the ZCTU strike”.”The working people of Zimbabwe, being the ZCTU membership, are the core constituency of our party.In this regard, the MDC and its members will take part in the workers’ action,” he said in a statement.Nampa-AFP