Fresh clampdown by Mugabe gives political opponents no respite

The smile on the face of Zimbabwe's popular opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was never meant to last.

In the two weeks since the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader was cleared of high treason, the government of President Robert Mugabe has embarked on a fresh clampdown on his party, dashing hopes that a solution to Zimbabwe's long-running political crisis could be at hand.

A white opposition MP has been slapped with a year's prison term for manhandling a government minister, a trade union delegation from neighbouring South Africa has been deported and dozens of MDC supporters were arrested in the second city of Bulawayo.

Hours after a High Court judge in Harare ruled on October 15 that he was not guilty of plotting to assassinate the Zimbabwean president, an exuberant Mr Tsvangirai said he hoped the acquittal would be the basis for national reconciliation.

But Mr Mugabe's government had other ideas.

In a move that threatened to rile long-time ally South Africa, police and immigration officials in Harare last week detained and then deported a visiting delegation from the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

The Zimbabwean government accused the team, which had planned to meet civic and church groups, of working with 'anti-Zimbabwe interests' - a phrase usually used to describe the MDC.