Zim government: We will deal with protests
The Zimbabwe Government has warned it would deal with any public protests on Wednesday, saying they were being sponsored by hostile embassies in the country.
Home Affairs Minister, Ignatius Chombo, told a press conference in Harare Tuesday evening that the police would crush any protests against the government, adding the police was fully prepared to deal with the situation.
"The security situation currently prevailing in the country is generally peaceful, though there are individuals and groups that are calling for a repeat of events that unfolded last week," he said.
"Let me warn the instigators behind the intended protests that they will face the full wrath of the law," he added.
The police, he said, had enough manpower to deal with any possible disturbances, adding they did not need any assistance from the army.
Chombo said government was fully aware of activities of politically affiliated organisations who were inciting the nation through misrepresenting facts.
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Chombo said those who wanted to demonstrate had to do it in terms of the law, saying while the government accepted the legitimate right of citizens to petition, they should be exercised peacefully.
"It is very clear in the Constitution what you should do if you want to demonstrate,"he said. "But if you elect not to follow the law, the police have a right to protect the other law abiding citizens whose rights you are now infringing upon."
Chombo defended the use of force by the police, as well as the roadblocks, saying only those driving stolen vehicles were afraid of roadblocks.
"Sometimes enough is not enough for a person to whom enough is too little," he said.