Zimbabwe: A forceful watch
28 Mar 2008

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s army and police were placed on alert yesterday on the eve of the country’s general election as security chiefs vowed to thwart any Kenya-style violence in the poll’s aftermath.

“The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond,” police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri said yesterday.
He said people who harbour “evil” intentions should know that “the defence and security forces are up to task in thwarting all threats to national security”.

His comments came at a news conference attended by all security chiefs.

“We discourage acts that could lead to anarchy … violence is a poor substitute for intelligence and that it is a monster that can devour its creator … ” he said.

The warning came as witnesses said security forces had started deploying water cannons and tanks in the capital.

In power since independence in 1980, President Robert Mugabe has been taken on in the race in the joint parliamentary and presidential polls by long-time opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former finance minister Simba Makoni.

Meanwhile, two South Africans were arrested in Zimbabwe for allegedly participating in the election coverage build-up without accreditation, the Foreign Affairs Department said yesterday.
The two, from GlobeCast Africa in Johannesburg, were arrested in Harare and are in police custody, said spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa. SA’s embassy in Harare will “interact” with authorities to find a resolution, he said.

Alan Hird, CEO of GlobeCast Africa, told Sapa they are not journalists, but technicians, who provide satellite up-link equipment to media organisations for live crossings. He understood that the two did not have their accreditation on them at the time of their detention.