Zimbabwe: Police use tear gas on protestors

Police fired tear gas and used clubs today to disperse several hundred opposition supporters who gathered in a Harare park to mark the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising.

It was the latest instance of the intolerance President Robert Mugabe’s government has displayed toward opposition gatherings calling for greater democracy in the southern African country.

The Soweto uprising became a turning point in South Africa’s struggle, bringing a new era of intensified opposition to the apartheid government, both at home and abroad.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change lawmaker, Tendai Biti, vowed to keep up the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe.

‘‘Mass action is never impossible. This is only going to strengthen our resolve,’’ said Biti, referring to Mugabe’s increasing controls on opposition activity.

Independent human rights groups say at least 57 people, most of them opposition supporters, have died in political violence this year, both before and after Mugabe’s disputed re-election in March. Observer groups said the vote was marred by rigging and intimidation.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence. But the challenge to his office has grown in recent years and he has attempted to frustrate his critics by muzzling the press, especially foreign journalists, and legislating harsh laws to silence criticism of the government.

A newspaper in Harare said that Mugabe’s government imposed fees for both local and foreign journalists reporting from Zimbabwe for the first time as part of a repressive new law targeting the independent media.