Zimbabweans seek refuge at South African embassy

HARARE (Reuters) - A group of about 300 Zimbabweans sought refuge on Wednesday at the South African embassy in Harare, a Pretoria government spokesman said.

"We have come here as a last resort. we hope you can do something about our desperate situation," an unidentified woman who stood up to address observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the embassy said.

"The South African government confirms that a group of about 300 alleged (opposition) MDC supporters have converged on the South African embassy in Harare ... seeking refuge," South African Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told Reuters.

He said South Africa's ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mlungisi Makalima, and embassy staff were arranging food, blankets and other basic necessities for the people.

"The ambassador has indicated that he is in contact with the Zimbabwean authorities as well as welfare organizations with a view to organizing sanctuary for the group," Mamoepa said.

Kingsley Mamabolo, a South African member of the SADC observer team, said the group would be given shelter overnight

"The situation is slowly coming under control. We are going to house them overnight while trying to resolve their situation."

The group included women and children.

Many of the people claimed to have been previously housed at the MDC's headquarters in Harare.

They said they had moved from the MDC's offices after a police raid on Monday.

(Reporting by Nelson Banya; additional reporting by Muchena Zigomo in Johannesburg)