by Steve Sweeney
International editor

SCORES of opposition party supporters were detained in Zimbabwe on Saturday ahead of a rally to launch the Citizens Coalition for Change election campaign.

At least 80 people were held in the city of Masvingo, 300 miles south of the capital Harare, the party claimed.

“They were campaigning. The charges are unclear,” CCC spokesman Fadzayi Mahere said on Saturday.

Police have carried out a number of arrests of opposition activists in the pst few days. 

The CCC said that 13 of its youth members were detained on Friday and will remain in custody until a court hearing sometime this week.

Former finance minister and CCC vice-president Tendai Biti was also held for several hours while out campaigning.

The charges against those detained are unclear. But strict rules have been imposed on gatherings that include not being allowed to chant slogans, sing political songs or march in a procession.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa told thousands at a rally for his ruling Zanu-PF last week that no opposition party would rule Zimbabwe any time soon.

CCC president Nelson Chamisa has said his party is under constant attack because he believes it is set to win forthcoming by-elections.

He narrowly lost the 2018 presidential election to Mr Mnangagwa, although he claimed that the vote was fraudulent.

Mr Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 after Robert Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe for the 37 years since independence, was forced to stand down.

Many Zimbabweans say the situation has deteriorated since he was elected, with the country’s economic crisis deepening.

Teachers have been on strike for the past few weeks as they demand a minimum salary of $540 (£492) a month. They currently earn about $100 (£74) a month in local currency.

But Mr Mnangagwa caused anger when he ruled out use of US dollars for salaries, a move critics and economists said showed he was “out of touch” with reality.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader Robson Chere accused the president of being “carefree and indifferent on the plight of teachers” and their fight for a living wage.

“We will resist any attempts by any means necessary, even by the highest office, from stopping us to demand a living wage. 

“We will continue mobilising teachers get the USD so that teachers can actively participate in this economy,” he said.