The butcher of Harare

Morgan Tsvangirai, the face of opposition to Robert Mugabe's thugocracy, is in hospital after being brutally beaten by Zimbabwean police:

The leader of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party needed hospital treatment for severe head injuries after police beat him following his arrest at a prayer rally on Sunday, his party said.

Morgan Tsvangirai required surgery to his wounds at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare early yesterday, said an official from his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The MDC leader was arrested in the impoverished township of Highfields where he had gone to attend a prayer rally. Dozens of opposition officials, rights activists and churchmen were also detained.

[...]

The former trade unionist had a “very deep wound” to his head, Professor Mukonoweshuro said. “He can hardly eat and hardly talk. In fact it was an attempted murder.” Mr Tsvangirai had fainted three times while police were beating him, he said.

Police seized the opposition leaders as they tried to negotiate for permission to hold a prayer rally in Highfields. All political meetings have been banned in and around the capital as threats to President Mugabe’s 27-year hold on power mount.

The Opposition blames Mr Mugabe for plunging this once-prosperous and peaceful country into a rapidly worsening economic and political crisis. The ageing ruler further angered opponents this week when it emerged he was seeking to postpone the end of his Presidential term from next year to 2010.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at March 12, 2007 08:35 PM