20110221
reuters

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has arrested dozens of activists on charges of plotting protests against long-serving President Robert Mugabe similar to those that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia, police said on Monday.

Police detained 46 people in the capital Harare as they watched videos of protests in the north African countries and discussed possible demonstrations in Zimbabwe, said Inspector James Sabau, police spokesman for Harare province.

"The agenda of the meeting was the revolt in Egypt and Tunisia -- what lessons can be learnt for the working class in Zimbabwe and Africa," he told reporters.

However, a defence lawyer said his clients, who were arrested on Saturday, would deny plotting any anti-government protests when they appear in court this week.

Critics say Mugabe, who turned 87 on Monday and has been in office for 31 years, has used tough policing and vote rigging to keep his grip on power despite an economic crisis in the past decade which many blame on his mismanagement.

Those arrested included trade unionists, student leaders and Munyaradzi Gwisai, who heads a small but radical pressure group, the International Socialist Organisation (ISO). They were detained at a meeting called by Gwisai.

"Videos of the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia were being shown to the guests who attended as a way to motivate the people to subvert a constitutionally-elected government," Sabau said.

"It has been said before by our commanders and I will say it again, the Egyptian-style (protests) have no place in Zimbabwe," Sabau said. He declined to discuss any further details of the case, saying the accused would be taken to court this week.