Police deployed on rooftops to quell protests

Police deployed on rooftops to quell protests

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By Staff Reporters

ZIMBABWEAN police deployed on rooftops and in the streets of downtown Harare at dawn Tuesday to prevent further protests against the outcome of March 31 parliamentary elections.

Armed details at roadblocks checked traffic in and out of the city centre a day after riot police dispersed a brief demonstration there.

President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party claimed victory in 78 of the 120 elected constituencies and with 30 more appointed by Mugabe, is certain to have the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution at will.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told state radio two youths had been arrested after street protests at a major highway intersection Monday. Five shops and a bank had been stoned during the unrest, he said.

"The two were among hired groups moving in groups of three or four distributing pamphlets in a campaign of disinformation," he said. "Following the arrest of the two it has been established they were recruited to cause panic among the people of Zimbabwe."

Bvudzijena said "some mischievous individuals were phoning others and sending telephone messages alleging that the central business district was in flames and that looting was taking place."

Officials of Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change scorned the accusations but were not prepared to make formal comment until the party's leaders had been consulted.

"Police remain on high alert," said Bvudzijena. "Police will not allow any party to mar the post election period by indulging in activities which create alarm and despondency."

The government-controlled daily newspaper, The Herald, Tuesday alleged "prices of some commodities were suddenly increased soon after the announcement of results (which) could have been due to connivance between some manufacturers and the MDC to cause unrest among the people."

The top civil servant in Zimbabwe's Energy Ministry, Justice Mapumanga, went on radio and television to deliver an assurance that fuel is available in the country. The state-owned national oil monopoly was importing sufficient supplies, he said. In the past month filling stations have frequently run out of stocks.

MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi Monday said party headquarters had no advance knowledge of the Harare demonstration in which up to 1,000 youth supporters of the party may have been involved.

Pamphlets distributed said: "The MDC has rejected the election results and urges its members, supporters and all Zimbabweans to pressurize the regime into reversing the electoral fraud."

Under draconian new security laws, anyone attempting to "coerce" the government, even by peaceful means, risks a 20-year jail term, and any gathering of more than three people requires police permission -AP
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