Police ban rallies in Harare

Police in Zimbabwe today banned rallies and demonstrations across large areas of the capital Harare, citing looting and destruction of property at the weekend.

Police issued the three-month ban in Mbare and Harare South districts – both hotbeds of opposition support – in notices placed in the official Herald newspaper. The two areas cover several working-class suburbs and include sporting grounds usually used by the Movement for Democratic Change for rallies.

On Sunday, police arrested and beat up opposition party supporters who planned to demonstrate against deteriorating living conditions and plans by President Robert Mugabe to postpone presidential elections from 2008 to 2010.

In a television interview yesterday on the eve of his 83rd birthday, Mr Mugabe made it clear he did not intend to relax his grip on power.

“If I want to lengthen my term, I can stand next year,” he said. “I can stand and then have another six years for that matter and what will the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) do?” said the president, who looked relaxed and in good health.

The opposition blames Mr Mugabe for Zimbabwe’s worsening economic crisis and has been incensed by plans by some in the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front to amend the constitution so that the presidential term can be extended by two years.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has charged that Mugabe is at “war” with his people, who are finding it increasingly difficult to survive. Annual inflation reached nearly 1,600 percent in January, the highest rate in the world.

Mr Mugabe did not mention the weekend skirmishes in the interview, which was punctuated by birthday messages of congratulation to the president from companies and government departments.

The official Herald newspaper published a 16-page supplement filled with lavish birthday messages. Many were from loss-making concerns such as the state-run power utility ZESA behind worsening power cuts and the national fuel-procurement body NOCZIM, which has failed to end six years of fuel shortages.

“You have fought a good fight, good and faithful servant to the people of Zimbabwe,” one birthday message read. A message from the police force said Mugabe’s “gallant and insightful leadership” would continue to inspire.

Names already being touted as possible successors are Vice President Joyce Mujuru, whose husband is a powerful ex-army commander; parliamentary speaker John Nkomo; former parliamentary speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa, once regarded as Mugabe’s favourite, and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono.