Riot police patrol Harare surburb

Riot police patrol Harare surburb

Zimbabwean police use anti-riot water cannons to disperse opposition supporters in Harare on Sunday

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By Staff Reporter

RIOT police patrolled a restive Harare township Monday to stop possible unrest, a day after crushing an opposition rally amid government fears of a new street campaign against Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president.

Heavily armed riot squads prevented the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) from holding a court-approved rally in Highfield Sunday, firing teargas and water cannon to drive away stone-throwing protesters and arresting 122 people.

Political analysts said the crackdown had stoked tensions in the southern African country, where people are struggling with a desperate economic crisis and unemployment is surging.

Riot squads on foot and in armoured trucks were still patrolling the streets of Highfield early today, but in smaller numbers than on Sunday.

Police armed with guns, rubber batons, shields, teargas canisters and launchers were also on guard at the poor township's main shopping mall, traditionally a flashpoint for political clashes.

"It's quiet here, but you can see there that they are not quite sure yet," one resident said, nodding towards one police patrol.

Tension has been rising in recent months over Zimbabwe's deteriorating economy and skyrocketing cost of living, prompting some workers, including doctors and teachers, to embark on wage strikes as inflation tops 1 600%.

The High Court on Saturday ordered the government to allow the MDC to hold its rally, rejecting police arguments that they needed more time to find the manpower to monitor it.

State media suggested the authorities were worried that the MDC wanted to use the event to launch a wave of anti-government protests, and stopped it "for security and political reasons."

The media said the rally was to be part of a British-backed drive "to galvanise the regime change lobby" and embarrass Mugabe, who turns 83 this week and will celebrate his birthday at a huge party organised by his governing Zanu PF on Saturday. - Reuters

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