Zimbabwe police detain activists en route to SADC summit

Aug 15, 2007, 15:35 GMT

Johannesburg/Harare - Police in Zimbabwe on Wednesday detained dozens of rights activists at the country's northern border post with Zambia and seized posters, T-shirts and fliers from the group, a statement said.

The 60 activists, including members of Zimbabwe's main labour union were detained at the Chirundu border post en route to a key regional summit in the Zambian capital, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said.

Police seized posters, fliers and T-shirts carried and worn by the activists as they were deemed offensive, ZCTU spokesperson Khumbulani Ndlovu said in a statement.

At least 40 of those detained were still being questioned by late Wednesday afternoon, while 20 had been allowed to proceed, she added.

'It seems the government is employing one of its dirty tactics in trying to gag the human rights activists,' the statement said.

Police have not confirmed the incident.

Zimbabwe's economic turmoil and deep political tensions are expected to be on the agenda of the Lusaka summit that begins Thursday.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is due to deliver a progress report on his efforts to mediate in Zimbabwe's political crisis, following the mandate he was given at an extraordinary SADC summit in late March.

Mbeki's task was given to him after a brutal crackdown by police against the opposition and rights activists in Zimbabwe in March left at least one person dead, while dozens were severely injured in police custody.