Zimbabwe police gear up for opposition protests

Monday 05 March 2007

By Thabani Mlilo and Brian Ncube

HARARE - Zimbabwe Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has cancelled leave
for officers and beefed up manpower in Harare and Bulawayo in preparation
for possible opposition protests in the two cities, as political tension
mounts in the southern African country.

In a memo addressed to all police stations last Tuesday but made available
to ZimOnline at the weekend, titled, "Cancellation of Leave and Placement of
Members on Standby," reference number MJ57/2007, Chihuri cancelled all leave
and placed all officers on alert.

"All police officers who had been granted leave should return to their
respective stations with immediate effect and be deployed as commanded by
their provincial commanders.

"The dress order of the day will be full riot gear until further notice and
those members who remain at stations should be alert for urgent calls of
action," read part of the memo.

In a separate memo, also written last week, highlighting rising tensions in
Zimbabwe, Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources Barbara Mandizha, ordered
police stations around the country to compile lists of "able-bodied"
officers for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.

Sources at the police headquarters in Harare told ZimOnline at the weekend
that the transfer was a "pro-active" strategy to prepare for possible
protests in the two cities, both strongholds of the main opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) party.

"All provincial commanders are directed to submit a list of able-bodied
members for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.

"Commanders should treat this matter with urgency as this is a directive
from the Minister (of Home Affairs). No excuses should be entertained as
this is a national call," says the memo.

Political tensions have risen sharply in Zimbabwe over the past few months
as a steep economic crisis takes its toll on a population grappling with the
world's highest inflation rate of nearly 1 600 percent, surging unemployment
and poverty.

The tensions worsened after the ruling ZANU PF party proposed last December
to extend President Robert Mugabe's term which was due to end next year by
two more years to 2010.

Both factions of the MDC and civic groups have vowed to take to the streets
to force Mugabe not to extend his term arguing that the country could not
bear to have the veteran president in power for two more years.

Two weeks ago, the police fought running battles with MDC supporters in the
working class suburb of Highfield as they sought to block the opposition
party led by Morgan Tsvangirai from holding a rally to launch the party's
campaign for next year's presidential election.

The Zimbabwe government has banned protests and rallies following the
violent protests in Highfield. The MDC says the ban amounted to a
declaration of a state of emergency by the Harare authorities.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on the matter saying
he is not at liberty to discuss matters of strategy with the Press.

"I am sorry this is an issue of strategy that cannot be discussed with the
Press. In any case, transfers are a normal phenomenon in any organization.
So why should it raise eyebrows?" he said.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi could not be reached for comment on the
matter.