Yesterday the MDC Mayor was visited at his home after lunch. He traveled to Central Poice Station where he was detained at 2.50pm by officers of the Law and Order Section Messrs Mlotshwa and Sibanda. He was taken to Central Police Station, then moved to the CID offices at Cabs buildings and finally returned to Central.

Initially Ncube was pressurised to make a statement through the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and the Government run press to the effect that he urges all workers to report to work. The Mayor refused to make any such statement.

Mayor Ndabeni Ncube was then coerced into writing a police dictated statement that at the request of the police he would make an effort to open the Bulawayo City Council revenue hall for the week.

He was charged under POSA (Public Order and Security Act) Section 5(2)(b), on the grounds that he incited council workers to follow the call for a national stay-away. Under coercion the Mayor put the abovementioned statement as his response to the charge.

Having made the statement the Mayor was then released.

Further Arrests
The arrest of key MDC activists continues. Several people were arrested yesterday, however their cases only came to the attention of the human rights lawyers late this morning.

Victor Nyoni, Welfare Officer of the Southern Region, was moved from Western Commonage and is now being held at Bulawayo Central Police Station with his associates, Limukani Ndluvu, Stanley Dube and Bekitemba Mpofu.

Also at Central are Dumisani Ncube, MDC Chairman of Nketa, and Suzie Moyo.
The human rights lawyers are at times finding it difficult to gain access to their clients but report that things are running fairly smoothly.

Business Shuts down in the City of Kings
Many of the businesses that did open yesterday were marked overnight by a covert group of "graffiti" activists. They marked these businesses with a large black "C" for collaborator. By 8am many of theses signs had already been painted over.

Only around 70 shops and businesses opened in Bulawayo this morning, but many of those were closed by lunch time. The streets of Zimbabwe's second city are quiet and calm, but with a definite military and police presence in evidence.

By the afternoon both the business and industrial sites were almost totally shut down. Airforce helicopter gunships continued their periodic patrols over the city - one was captured on film this evening flying over the city (see the attachment-"chopper").

State Agents Intimidate Owners of Businesses
Several reliable reports have come in that state agents are stepping up intimidation of captains of business. One Bulawayo restaurant was forced to open with threats of detention. Later the police attempted to coerce the proprietors by threatening them with a "fine" (bribe) of $1,000,000 to make the threat of arrest and detention go away. This morning the proprietors instructed a senior Bulawayo lawyer to respond to the police's attempt to extort money in this way.

The home of the Managing Director of a large company that closed down yesterday was visited several times by the CIO last night and threatened his wife with dire consequences. Several others business people have been dragged into Central Police Station and forced to sign affidavits that they will reopen their doors or be charged under POSA.

A heavy police, airforce and army presence was maintained throughout Bulawayo today with numerous reports of police going business by business trying to coerce owners into opening their businesses, largely unsuccessfully . Photograph of a policeman and heavily armed soldier in full battle gear attached - "police and army".

The business community of Zimbabwe is currently being reminded that it is in no way illegal to close their doors. The state is reverting to desperate measure to pretend all is well in the State of Zimbabwe!

One shop owner reported that he agreed to the police's demand that he would open, but that he told them he would sit on his own at the door and refuse entry to customers as he would have no staff manning the tills!

KweKwe
George Hungwe and eight other activists were arrested yesterday while massing to march. Two assaults were reported, including the brutal beating of one MDC organizer,Aaron Gwaza, who is still in a private clinic. The roof of another MDC organizer's home, Mrs Chauke, was destroyed by the Zanu youth brigade (locally known as the "Taliban") and her daughter assaulted.

Most shops opened in this small town, but this is not surprising as most of the town is owned by Emerson Mnangagwa, ZanuPF Speaker of the House. However, business is dead as most people have stayed home.

Banket
Duke de Coudray and Gary Mason have been released from police custody. The public prosecutor stated they were wrongfully arrested and he could not take the case to court. They were initially charged under the bogus "Contempt of Court" ruling that was issued on President Tsvangirai last Sunday evening. The prosecutor stated he would report his findings to the DA, but as a formality.

The Banket Police Member in Charge has coerced business owners to reopen today, but few workers have come in to work.

Chiredzi
Police have harassed many MDC activists in this lowveld town. Gerry Whitehead, a prominent activist was taken to the police station for questioning, accused of working against the state under POSA for assisting the organisation of the stay-away, then later released without official charges being laid.

Only 25% of businesses were shut in Chiredzi today. This comes as a direct result of severe intimidation. The police and CIO visited most businesses and promised police protection only if they opened, obviously meaning they would suffer victimization if they remained shut. Despite the shops being open, business was very quiet, most people staying home.

Masvingo
Most businesses were forced to open, but were running on skeleton staff with most staff, workers and customers staying away. There have been no reports of state sponsored violence from there.

Gowke
Nine people were arrested yesterday. Eight were released and they are Simon Majiso, Makiwa Muchengeti, Jenny Makwavarara, Christopher Maveve, Willard Sumarai, Dennis Mangwiro, Petros Gagwende and Simukiwe (Surname unknown). Mr Nyathi was held overnight and it is still unknown if he was released.