ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe President Mr Robert Mugabe faces one of the biggest challenges of his 23-year-old rule during a week of protests called to drive him from power.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has vowed to press ahead with demonstrations against Mr Mugabe starting today, despite warnings government forces will crush them. The MDC demands Mr Mugabe resign, accusing him of mismanaging an economy now in crisis, with record inflation and unemployment, and shortages of food, fuel and foreign currency. Mr Mugabe (79) denies the charge.
He might win the street combat, but political analysts said the protests would refocus world attention on him, undermine morale in his ranks and could push him into early talks with his rivals. The government has put its security forces on full alert, deployed troops in some restive townships and set up roadblocks.
"The government is saying it is going to play tough . . . but even if it manages to contain the situation this time round, in political terms Mugabe will still emerge the loser," said Mr Brian Kagoro, lawyer and co-ordinator of rights group Zimbabwe Crisis.
In an unprecedented action, Mr Mugabe's police chief on Saturday won an interim High Court order that MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai call off the protests or face arrest.
On Saturday, thousands of people jammed supermarkets and banks around Zimbabwe to stock up for the protests.