3 feared dead as police crush Zimbabwe protests

3 feared dead as police crush Zimbabwe protests

TSVANGIRAI argues with police officers after his party's rally was cancelled by heavy force

ISRAELI-made anti-riot water tanks like the one above were used to crush the protests

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By Torby Chimhashu

THREE people were feared dead as hundreds others sustained serious injuries when riot police swarmed a poor township in Harare to stop an opposition rally Sunday.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was due to address a rally in Highfield hours after his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party won a High Court order re-instating the rally which had been cancelled by the police on the grounds of lack of manpower.

Truckloads of riot policemen and notorious government-backed militia from the Border Gezi Youth Training School invaded the Zimbabwe Grounds early Sunday morning to crush an MDC rally called to protest against rising prices, a deteriorating economy and the proposed extension of President Robert Mugabe's rule to 2010.

A strong crowd of about 10 000 people was sent scurrying in all directions as the armed police fired tear gas and water cannons into the crowd in a bid to disperse them.

Angry crowds hit back by throwing stones and rocks at the armed officers and the baton-wielding militia.

Sensing danger, the police called for reinforcements from the Support Unit which quickly unleashed the Israeli-made water cannons and anti-riot tanks which arrived in Highfield at the nick of time.

The water tanks are mounted with a cannon that can target a range of about 50 meters. For the first time, since their purchase from Israel in 2002, they were used to crush a rally.

The three water canon tanks sprayed the toxic water everywhere resulting in uncontrolled panic in and around the Zimbabwe Grounds. In the ensuing pandemonium, it is claimed that three people died as police used live ammunition as riots escalated.

Correspondents reported sightings of "three motionless bodies", but it could not be verified with the police or hospital authorities if the people had fainted or actually died.

The MDC, in a statement, also raised the prospect that three of its supporters might have died in the violence.

"Three people are feared dead while 127 people have been arrested and that is the price they have paid for turning up for an ordinary party rally," Nelson Chamisa, the party spokesman said.

Tsvangirai and his entourage twice had to change routes as Highfield resembled a war zone when the angry crowd blocked major roads into and out of Highfield with large boulders.

A group of journalists and some members of the MDC top brass sought refuge in the maize fields as police fuelled the carnage, indiscriminately beating anyone seen walking on the streets.

All shops and flea markets were closed as the beatings spread to bars and restaurants at Machipisa Shopping Center.

In one incident, police fired tear gas near the Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Canaan. Service was brought to a halt as congregators fled from the church. They were, however, forced back into church when the armed militia and police came charging at them.

Police refused to comment on why they had defied a High Court order by Justice Anne Mary Gowora which granted Tsvangirai to hold his rally in Highfield.

The police also refused to comment on the violent disturbances squarely blamed on them by the MDC and neutrals who were caught up in the orgy.

Earlier on Friday, Highfield police had refused to sanction the rally claiming lack of equipment and poor manpower to police the rally.

Tsvangirai tried despairingly to get an explanation from Machipisa Police Station officer in charge as to why they defied the High Court Order.

The MDC leader was threatened with arrest and beatings but stood his ground before he decided to abort his scheduled rally.

The MDC warned that no amount of repression would stop them from their fight against Mugabe and Zanu PF rule.

"This is the beginning of a protracted and sustained campaign to fight Mugabe. The MDC will not be cowed into submission by this desperate regime. We won't rest until we take back this country to democracy," Chamisa said in an interview with New Zimbabwe.com.

"What we have seen today is a dictatorship that is running scared. There is no doubt that we are now in a police state. The heavy-handedness used by police to stop a High Court-sanctioned rally shows how desperate this regime has become."

While the MDC deplored the knee-jerk tactics used by the police to crush the rally, Zanu PF cadre Joseph Chinotimba said the MDC had invited the wrath of the law-enforcement agents by assaulting a policeman on Friday.

"Vakarova mupurisa nge Friday. Saka ngavaregi kuchema nekuti ndivovakatanga nazvo (they (MDC) assaulted a police officer on Friday and must not cry foul because they stirred a hornet nest)," the war veteran said.

On Friday, police fought running battles with MDC youths who were marching along Samora Machel Avenue in solidarity with the striking doctors and college lecturers.

A male police officer was injured during the demonstrations but the MDC denied its members had assaulted him as claimed by the state-run Herald newspaper on Saturday.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti and legislator for Glen View, Paul Madzore, were arrested in connection with Friday's demonstration.

It was unclear if the two legislators had been released late Sunday.

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