Armed anti-riot ploice deployed in Zimbabwe’s eastern border-Mutare (07-08-07)

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Armed anti-riot police and the police crack unit the Support Unit and soldiers were early today deployed into the city’s suburbs and streets carrying random searches from members of the public.

The police and soldiers complete in anti riot gear and camouflage were armed with fire-arms, baton sticks, tear smoke canisters, shields and police dogs.

Police vehicles moved up and down the streets of the city leaving may people wondering what could be happening in the usually quite city.

Most public places such as commuter ranks in the central business district, public parks and market places are targets by the government agents who included police in plain clothes and government spy agents, the Central Intelligence Organisation, CIO operatives.

Some people were being subjected to random body searches and left to go. Noone had been arrested at the time of writing. CAJ News could not establish what they were looking for, but it is believed they are weapons, as victims of the police harassment also confirmed the police never told them what they were after.

“They just stopped me searched me all over including my bag and they ordered me to go without saying anything,” said Patrick Mateko of Chikanga in Mutare.

While CAJ News could not get official comment from Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Brian Makomeke, observers said the government is worry on the mood of the people such as NCA activists who are demanding a new constitution for the country to ensure next year’s elections would be free and fair.

“They are afraid the NCA will take them by surprise and the opposition MDC might take advantage of the demonstration to advance their goal. So police are in full forces as other government arms to sniff out all who intend to demonstrate,” said Lawrence Dube of Sakubva.

Another Mutare resident Shupikai Mangezi said he was shocked with the increased number of the police, soldiers and other government agents today.

“I think they are up to something sinister. There are so many of them in residential areas and in the city. It makes us feel unstable of what is likely to happen,” he said.

The NCA has in the past held successful demonstrations with a few arrests in Mutare.

The heavy police presence and of the soldiers resulted in the eastern border city being in a sombre state, while some people went about their business but careful not to move in groups of more than five people, as doing so might be regarded as a crime under the repressive Public Order and Security Act, POSA- CAJ News.