Addressing senior army officers at a military school in the capital Harare today, Zimbabwe's Information Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said his country is relying on African countries for support and solidarity in a period when Zimbabwe has been subjected to strong international condemnations for continuously abusing the rights of its citizens. Police in Zimbabwe recently launched a violent crackdown on opposition activists, resulting to deaths and severe injuries. Among those manhandled included the leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, who was hospitalised as a result.
Threatened by the act, Zimbabwe's neighbours that have been defending it until now, also joined the international community to pile pressures on the government. Increasing violence an economic meltdown and a steady outflow of Zimbabwean refugees is increasingly threatening regional stability.