Military

DATE=5/29/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE / POLITICS (LO)

NUMBER=2-303766

BYLINE=PETA THORNYCROFT

DATELINE=HARARE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Zimbabwe's armed forces issued a warning Thursday about protests planned for next week against the government of President Robert Mugabe. The statement came as the country's opposition leader made his widely-expected call for what he hopes will be the largest peaceful demonstrations in the country's history. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare.

TEXT: The Zimbabwe Defense Forces issued a statement to the government-controlled media Thursday, saying it will bring its full force upon those perpetrators of uncalled-for violence. The statement says previous strikes organized by the opposition have been marked by violence.

The Zimbabwe Defense Forces are made up of the army, the air force and the police.

Military analysts say Zimbabwe does not have rubber bullets and if protesters are fired on next week, live ammunition would have to be used.

The military statement came as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai issued a statement calling for millions of Zimbabweans to take to the streets in a week-long series of demonstrations beginning Monday. He urged them to be peaceful, but warned them to expect violence.

People on the streets Thursday said they are expecting to be tear gassed and attacked by water cannon, and many said ultimately they believe they will be shot at.

They said their goal is to to march to Mr. Mugabe's official residence to call upon him to step down.

The U-S Embassy in Harare issued a statement late Wednesday calling for restraint from both Mr. Mugabe's forces and demonstrators. The embassy statement says the Zimbabwe government should respect the right of the citizenry to protest peacefully and should not follow through on threats to suppress the protests.

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Many diplomats said this week they were anxious about what might happen next week and what the toll in terms of human lives will be. There is also speculation, and uncertainty about the number of demonstrators who will turn up. And whether they will run away, or regroup, if the army and police begin shooting.

On Thursday, police were out in force in central Harare, and planned lunch-time opposition prayer meetings did not take place.

On Wednesday, police used tear gas and batons to disperse about two-thousand people praying for strength ahead of next week's demonstrations. Three women were arrested.

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The demonstrations coincide with a deepening economic crisis, including food and fuel shortages, runaway inflation and a shortage of cash. The only fuel available this week was on the black market at four times the official price.

Every night this week in several poor townships on the outskirts of Harare, ever growing numbers of opposition supporters gathered to rehearse their marches and techniques ahead of the demonstrations.

Many have adopted the revolutionary South African march, the toyi toyi, which is accompanied by a chant. They said they will toyi toyi next week because it gives them courage. (Signed)

NEB/PT/AWP/RH