Harare -
Zimbabwe's opposition party, supporters of ousted vice-president Joice Mujuru, and the US are behind unrest in Zimbabwe, state media reported on Wednesday.
Blame for student demonstrations, a prison riot that claimed five lives, and the recent disappearance of a rights activist was attributed to these groups, the official Herald claimed.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai is working with Mujuru supporters and “some right-wing forces in the United States” to make Zimbabwe ungovernable, according to the report.
The newspaper's political editor Tichaona Zindoga wrote that opponents of President Robert Mugabe wanted to make security forces “over-react”.
The aim of this was apparently for international and regional criticism to force the ruling party into another coalition government with the opposition.
“The Gamatox faction Mujuru supporters in conjunction with the MDC and some right-wing forces in the US are working with Tsvangirai to create conditions similar to what prevailed in 2007 which led to the creation of the inclusive government,” Zindoga quoted sources as saying.
Tsvangirai was badly beaten by police at a prayer rally in 2007.
Violent attacks on his supporters, after he won the first round of presidential elections in March 2008, saw Mugabe - forced by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional grouping - accepting a power-sharing agreement that lasted until 2013.
The last few days have seen mounting tensions in Zimbabwe following the abduction of former journalist Itai Dzamara on March 9. He is still missing.
Tsvangirai has said he holds Mugabe and his government responsible, but state media have suggested that Dzamara's abduction is “self-authored”.
The Herald also claimed that Friday's prison riot was masterminded by an inmate who was an opposition supporter.
State TV has claimed that a third hand was behind student protests on Tuesday over staff strikes at the main University of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwean blogger (at)joeblackzw tweeted: “ZBC says political parties bent on regime change are stirring the emotions of University students. As if they need stirring”.
A community Facebook page dedicated to Mujuru said in a post:
“Something... is boiling somewhere. The temperature is high. The air is pregnant. When it happens remember no-one saves you but yourselves.”
Sapa