Demonstrations Zimbabwe

Hundreds of armed riot police sealed off a street in downtown Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, and forced journalists to cancel a march against state harassment. In recent weeks, government officials have described the independent press as a threat to national security, and the printing press of the independent Daily News was seriously damaged by explosives last Sunday. About 200 journalists had gathered at the national press club for the march when police sealed off the road outside.

Police cracked down on planned Saturday demonstrations against the disputed presidential elections, arresting at least 22 people in the capital and blockading strategic locations in towns across Zimbabwe. The arrested demonstrators include Lovemore Madhuku, who heads the umbrella organization of civic groups setting up the protest against President Robert Mugabe's reelection.

Thousands of opposition supporters dominated the opening of Zimbabwe's new parliament Thursday, whistling and chanting as President Robert Mugabe did his best to ignore them. Mugabe sternly inspected a military honor guard outside the parliament building in Harare, the capital, as the crowd screamed the opposition slogan, Chinja, or "change," in the local Shona language.

Hundreds of armed riot police sealed off a street in downtown Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, and forced journalists to cancel a march against state harassment. In recent weeks, government officials have described the independent press as a threat to national security, and the printing press of the independent Daily News was seriously damaged by explosives last Sunday. About 200 journalists had gathered at the national press club for the march when police sealed off the road outside.

War veterans and ruling party militants armed with clubs and iron bars broke up a peace rally Saturday called by civic groups and turned back others who approached. The rally, which was called by the National Constitutional Assembly, an alliance of civic groups, was intended to protest worsening political violence that has left at least 19 opposition supporters dead, including three white farmers.

Gay rights activists abandoned their booth at Africa's biggest book fair after it was besieged by fist-waving opponents trying to prevent the display of gay rights pamphlets. Roughly 100 protesters kept the activists from showing the pamphlets--which the government has called obscene--despite a second court ruling in favor of the group Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe. Demonstrators in Harare chanted anti-gay slogans and brandished their fists at the empty booth. Some threatened to burn the stand.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe promised to remove his party militants from white-owned farms they have occupied for six months. A one-day general strike protesting a breakdown in law and order shut down the economy while Mugabe met with South African President Thabo Mbeki in the capital, Harare. After the talks, Mugabe said the occupiers would be removed by the end of August from white farms not slated to be confiscated under a national land distribution plan.

Police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas at thousands of demonstrators protesting price hikes and killed a man in Mutare, on the border with Mozambique, during a one-day national strike that sparked looting and brought much of the southern African nation to a standstill. Workers were trying to press President Robert Mugabe's government to reverse a 67% fuel price hike, with some challenging him to give more time to domestic problems instead of foreign policy issues.

Police cracked down on planned Saturday demonstrations against the disputed presidential elections, arresting at least 22 people in the capital and blockading strategic locations in towns across Zimbabwe. The arrested demonstrators include Lovemore Madhuku, who heads the umbrella organization of civic groups setting up the protest against President Robert Mugabe's reelection.

Political tensions erupted into violence Saturday when veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war attacked protesters opposed to President Robert Mugabe. At least 15 people reportedly were injured. The attack in the capital, Harare, came as Mugabe struggles to retain his 20-year hold on power. Opposition against Mugabe has grown amid recent illegal takeovers of white-owned farms, economic mismanagement, shortages and corruption.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe promised to remove his party militants from white-owned farms they have occupied for six months. A one-day general strike protesting a breakdown in law and order shut down the economy while Mugabe met with South African President Thabo Mbeki in the capital, Harare. After the talks, Mugabe said the occupiers would be removed by the end of August from white farms not slated to be confiscated under a national land distribution plan.

Thousands of opposition supporters dominated the opening of Zimbabwe's new parliament Thursday, whistling and chanting as President Robert Mugabe did his best to ignore them. Mugabe sternly inspected a military honor guard outside the parliament building in Harare, the capital, as the crowd screamed the opposition slogan, Chinja, or "change," in the local Shona language.

War veterans and ruling party militants armed with clubs and iron bars broke up a peace rally Saturday called by civic groups and turned back others who approached. The rally, which was called by the National Constitutional Assembly, an alliance of civic groups, was intended to protest worsening political violence that has left at least 19 opposition supporters dead, including three white farmers.

Political tensions erupted into violence Saturday when veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war attacked protesters opposed to President Robert Mugabe. At least 15 people reportedly were injured. The attack in the capital, Harare, came as Mugabe struggles to retain his 20-year hold on power. Opposition against Mugabe has grown amid recent illegal takeovers of white-owned farms, economic mismanagement, shortages and corruption.

Police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas at thousands of demonstrators protesting price hikes and killed a man in Mutare, on the border with Mozambique, during a one-day national strike that sparked looting and brought much of the southern African nation to a standstill. Workers were trying to press President Robert Mugabe's government to reverse a 67% fuel price hike, with some challenging him to give more time to domestic problems instead of foreign policy issues.

Gay rights activists abandoned their booth at Africa's biggest book fair after it was besieged by fist-waving opponents trying to prevent the display of gay rights pamphlets. Roughly 100 protesters kept the activists from showing the pamphlets--which the government has called obscene--despite a second court ruling in favor of the group Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe. Demonstrators in Harare chanted anti-gay slogans and brandished their fists at the empty booth. Some threatened to burn the stand.

Police rounded up about 100 people for demonstrating against a government crackdown on dissent that has closed the nation's only independent daily newspaper. Three of those arrested were photojournalists who were covering the protest outside the parliament building in downtown Harare, the capital. There was no comment from the government, which has routinely refused to allow public meetings and marches. Demonstrations in Zimbabwe must be cleared with police.