HARARE ( 2008-03-28 15:31:03 ) :
Zimbabwe's army and police were placed on full alert on Friday on the eve of the country's general election as security chiefs vowed to thwart any Kenya-style violence in the poll's aftermath.
"The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond," said Augustine Chihuri, commissioner general of the police, in a statement read on behalf of the country's security chiefs on Friday.
Chihuri said anyone who harboured "evil" intentions should be aware that "the defence and security forces are up to task in thwarting all threats to national security."
His comments came at a news conference attended by all security chiefs, including the head of the army, prison service and intelligence services.
"We discourage acts that could lead to anarchy," they said.
"Also those who have been breathing fire about the Kenyan-style violence should be warned that violence is a poor substitute for intelligence and that it is a monster that can devour its creator, as it is blind and not selective in nature," he said.
The warning came as the opposition and witnesses said security forces had started deploying water cannons and tanks in some parts of the capital.
President Robert Mugabe, facing his fiercest battles since sweeping to power 28 years ago, this week issued a stark warning to his challengers that he would not tolerate post-election violence.
In power since independence in 1980, Mugabe has been taken on in the race in the joint parliamentary and presidential polls by long-time opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his finance minister Simba Makoni.
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