Dozens of officers in the capital Harare blocked off the site of an opposition rally dubbed the "mega demonstration" which was demanding electoral reforms.
Clashes then spread through the city's streets as baton-wielding riot police fought demonstrators.
The activists, protesting against the rule of 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe, threw rocks at officers and set tyres on fire and burned down a popular market.
They are angry at a faltering economy, cash shortages and high unemployment - and it was one of the worst outbreaks of violence since food riots in 1998.
The opposition supporters want electoral changes before 2018, when Mr Mugabe willseek re-election. But the 92-year-old president warned them that there would be no "Arab Spring", in reference to the wave of protests, riots and civil wars that toppled leaders in parts of the Arab world.
He said: "They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country but we tell them thatit is not going to happen here."
The protesters also clashed with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had refused to clear their street stalls.ZANU-PF youths hurled stones at the opposition activists but were overpowered and their stalls were set alight.
Opposition head Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president Joice Mujuru fled the rally in their cars while protesters ran for cover.
Mr Tsvangirai condemned the repression of the protest and vowed to increase pressure on Mr Mugabe's regime.He said: "The people's anger is very deep. The people's desperation is very deep
"Today's brutal suppression of the people will not stop them from exercising their rights."There had been a court order on Thursday allowing the protest to go ahead.
But an official from Mr Mujuru's party, Didymus Mutasa, claimed police disobeyedit and also blamed officers for the violence. - Sky News
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