The United States on Wednesday condemned police crackdowns on peaceful protest in Zimbabwe and urged President Robert Mugabe’s government to let people exercise their political rights.
Because Zimbabweans ”have made clear their desire for democratic change,” current political ferment can be solved only through dialogue with the opposition, civil society and the people, State Department deputy spokesperson Tom Casey said.
Protests broke out over the weekend after Mugabe declared his plan to postpone elections scheduled for next year and continue his presidency. He has been in power since 1980 and celebrated his 83rd birthday on Wednesday.
Police banned demonstrations for three months in two districts of the capital, Harare, where opposition forces have extensive support.
”We condemn the actions of the government of Zimbabwe over this past weekend in suppressing peaceful opposition political activity,” Casey said. ”Scores were injured and arrested for attempting to assemble peacefully and exercise their political rights.”
One of the rallies broken up was where Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of a faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was to have announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential elections.
Mugabe repeated on Wednesday that he has no intention of stepping down.
”We call on the government of Zimbabwe to respect the country’s judicial decisions and the rule of law and allow the people of Zimbabwe to exercise their political rights,” Casey said.
‘The regime is panicking’
Police in Harare published notices on Wednesday saying there had been ”pandemonium, looting and destruction of property” following opposition political rallies in some townships this month.
”The holding of rallies and demonstrations in Mbare district [and Harare South] is prohibited from … February 20 2007 to May 20 2007; that is, a period of three months,” the police announcement said.
The prohibition order affects the Highfield township where the police say they arrested 40 opposition supporters following the weekend clashes. They would be charged with public violence.
Tensions are high in the Southern African country over a deepening economic crisis marked by spiralling inflation, which at 1 600% is the highest in the world, shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel and surging unemployment.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the latest move showed Mugabe was unsettled by growing anger over a crumbling economy largely blamed on his politically driven policies.
”It is clear the regime is panicking. They are trying to impose a state of emergency … this is tantamount to banning the MDC and all political activity,” said Chamisa, vowing to continue ”to organise our meetings and rallies where necessary”. – Sapa-AP