The government of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has warned that it will crush anti-government street demonstrations being organised by the opposition.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is planning ”a week of democracy marches” starting June 2.
”We are ready to crush any demonstrations which will lead to the destruction of property or is a threat to national security,” Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi told the state-run daily Chronicle.
”If the demonstrations are peaceful, then they can go ahead. But if they are violent, we will not stand by and watch,” he was quoted as saying.
Pro-government veterans of the country’s war of liberation last week warned that they would clamp-down on any opposition demostrations using ”military force.”
War veterans leader Patrick Nyaruwata said the former guerrillas will be ”using our own miltary experience” against the MDC organised protests, in a way that has ”never been seen before in Zimbabwe.”
”The consequences of any mass action will be grave. We will co-ordinate with the state agents to fight you (MDC) off,” he warned according to press reports.
But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he and his supporters must be prepared to be arrestd and to make a mark. The MDC organised in March a two-day national strike that was largely followed. Last month, the labour movement which gave birth to the MDC advised people to stock up on food ahead of the mass action, but many have been unable to withdraw the money from their accounts to do so because banks have run out of cash. – Sapa-AFP