A pro-government rights outfit has urged Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to consider declaring a state of emergency to stem a tide of post-election political violence, state media said on Wednesday.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice (ZLJ) said a state of emergency would help protect lives and property from violence which it blamed on opposition activists.

"In view of the current situation, ZLJ appeals to government and President Mugabe to consider the possibility of declaring a state of emergency to quell the disturbances," said the organisation's chief advocate Martin Dinha in a report carried by The Herald.

A state of emergency can be declared where a president feels that a country's stability is threatened.

Initially it is for two weeks and can be extended for up to six months with the approval of parliament.

The measure enables the authorities to arrest and detain suspects indefinitely as well as impose curfews.

On Tuesday the UN warned that post-election violence in Zimbabwe was rising to near crisis levels ahead of a planned presidential run-off, with opposition supporters bearing the brunt of attacks.

Scores of people have been arrested in recent weeks over the violence which the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claims has left 32 of its supporters dead, dozens injured and thousands displaced.

Accusing the state of orchestrating the violence against opposition activists, MDC secretary for legal affairs Innocent Gonese said the declaration of a state of emergency cannot be ruled out.

"Politically we have always had the impression that this is what they want to do."

"I don't think there are circumstances that would warrant a state of emergency, but if that happens it would simply mean that Zanu-PF wants to perpetuate its rule," said Gonese.

Dzikamai Machingura, director of a non-ogovernmental rights body, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association said the ongoing violence could be easily contained if the police "handled it in an unbiased manner".

"A state of emergency would be a very drastic remedy... which is not warranted by the circumstances right now," he said.

No government official could immediately be reached for comment.

Zimbabwe is due to hold a presidential run-off at a date yet to be announced after the first round of polling on 29 March failed to produce an outright winner.

AFP