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Zim minister urges 'peace'
13/03/2007 09:22 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi has urged the country to remain calm following skirmishes that gripped a restive township in Harare at the weekend, state radio reported on Tuesday.
The violence broke out after main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of officials and rights activists were detained by police when they tried to hold a prayer rally on Sunday in Highfield suburb.
Tsvangirai has been severely assaulted in police custody, his party says. Lawyers were meanwhile trying to secure the release of Tsvangirai, according to a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesperson.
The Zimbabwe authorities have banned all political meetings in and around the capital as discontent mounts. The police insist that Sunday's gathering was political and not religious and therefore prohibited.
"Comrade Mohadi dismissed claims by the opposition MDC that the police had no legal mandate to stop the holding of the gathering on Sunday, as it was only a prayer meeting," the radio said.
"Of concern to the authorities is an underground movement that is reported to be targeting police officers for attacks and inciting the public to embark on violent activities," it added.
The minister said the police would "leave no stone unturned in ensuring that peace and tranquillity prevailed in the country," according to the report.
One opposition activist, Gift Tandare, was shot dead by police on Sunday afternoon. Police claimed Tandare led a group of 200 supporters to attack police and ignored warning shots from the officers. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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