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JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe summoned all Western diplomats based in Harare and threatened them with expulsion as reports said President Robert Mugabe was importing at least 3000 security personnel from his regional ally, Angola, to bolster his police force in cracking down on opponents.
Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi read
the riot act to the Western diplomats yesterday over the latter's perceived support for the opposition, telling them to "shape-up or ship-out" and in the process infuriating American ambassador, Christopher Dell, who walked out of the meeting in protest.
"We have been basically told to stop meddling in Zimbabwe's internal affairs or get kicked out," said one diplomat who asked not to be identified.
It is understood the diplomats were also warned against their continued interactions with opposition officials.
They were ordered to stop visiting opposition officials and attending their court appearances.
Those breaking the latest orders would face imminent expulsions.
Mr Mumbengegwi read the riot act to the diplomats as it emerged that Mr Mugabe is particularly keen on expelling British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Andrew Pocock, and his American counterpart, Mr Dell, as an example of what he can do to the rest of the Western diplomats.
The two, particularly Mr Dell, have been outspoken in their criticism of the Mugabe regime with Mr Dell describing it in the past as being "corrupt" and "misruling" Zimbabwe.
"If these two don't shut up from now, their expulsions are imminent," said a Zimbabwe foreign affairs official, who said "stern action" was being contemplated against Mr Dell for his walkout.
He did not elaborate.
Efforts to contact Mr Dell failed but he is due to leave Harare today and it is unclear whether he will return.
Mr Mugabe was particularly infuriated by the Western diplomats when they visited several police stations to try and locate arrested Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials after their whereabouts remained unknown long after their arrests more than a week ago.
The diplomats summoned included those from Britain, United States, Germany, Sweden, European Union mission in Zimbabwe, Canada and Australia.
The summons came as it was revealed that Mr Mugabe is importing up to 3000 militia men from Angola to help bolster his own police force's ability to clampdown on the opposition.
Angola and Zimbabwe are strong allies and they jointly deployed their armies to save the late Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila from a Uganda and Rwandan backed rebel onslaught that threatened to topple him from power in 1997.
Regional analysts, Southscan quoted Angola's Minister of Home Affairs Roberto Monteiro as saying that Angola would be bringing in more that 3000 police militia to help Zimbabwe in "quelling violence and maintaining law and order".
Mr Monteiro, who was in Zimbabwe at the weekend, further said Angola was "sympathetic" to Zimbabwe's police force in light of recent disturbances and attacks on Zimbabwe police.
Mr Mugabe accuses the opposition of attacking the police first and resisting arrest.
State security minister Didymus Mutasa declined to comment when contacted referring all questions to Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi whose cellphone was persistently switched off last night.
Angola commands well equipped crack militias that were used to crush dissidents in that country during its 25 year old civil war which ended with death of rebel leader Jonas Savimbi.
The Zimbabwe police has of late been hit by wide-scale desertions by poorly paid officers and soldiers, who opt to work as security guards in South Africa, leaving Zimbabwe's security exposed, according to a recent leaked confidential police memo.
Doubts over some army and police units has forced Mr Mugabe to create regiments that are loyal to him and report to him directly.
It is these regiments being used to intimidate and attack the opposition.
On Saturday, Mr Mugabe urged his police force to "bash" anyone opposing his rule and announced plans to heavily arm the police.
He told a meeting of his ruling party youths he will stand again in presidential elections next year and rule until 2014 by when he will be 90.
But MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti vowed that opposition leaders were prepared to "pay the ultimate price with our lives" to stop Mugabe from clinging to power, raising the spectre of more violence in Zimbabwe.
The abuses reached a crescendo on Saturday after police seized the body of an activist, Gift Tandare, from a morgue in Harare and forced his father to bury him in his rural home, reportedly at gun point, on Sunday.
That effectively thwarted a burial ceremony that had been planned in Harare and which police feared would have escalated into protests by mourners gathered.
While the brutal assaults on opposition leaders are dominating world headlines, the respected civic group, the Combined Harare Residents Association, highlighted in a statement yesterday the heavy assaults on ordinary civilians in the townships which are going unreported.
- INDEPENDENT
