Zim opposition accuses war veterans of attacks

Zimbabwean opposition politicians have accused hardline backers of President Robert Mugabe of harassment and attacks against them and others in the country’s east, a rights group said on Friday.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said an urgent high court application had been filed by a lawmaker and five local councillors from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) related to the alleged attacks.

The five local councillors had been forced from their homes and have sought refuge outside of the Nyanga constituency, the rights group said, citing the court case.

The lawmaker is Douglas Mwonzora and the councillors are Edith Baipai, Thenia Nyanhongo, Fidelis Katerere, Munyaradzi Mwonzora and Passmore Mandikuvadza.

Their court filing requests that the alleged harassment and assault of opposition members and supporters, as well as the theft of their livestock, be stopped immediately.

They are also seeking the dismantling of what they called illegal roadblocks and semi-military bases.

The rights group expressed “serious concern over the continued politically motivated violence and violation of the fundamental rights of perceived and confirmed members of the MDC by war veterans”.

The so-called war veterans are hardline supporters of Mugabe, who won a new term as president in June in a one-man election widely condemned as a sham.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the June 27 run-off days ahead of the poll, citing rising violence against supporters that had left dozens dead and thousands injured.

The rights group also criticised police “inaction” in reported cases of violence and intimidation.

Mugabe and MDC leaders signed an accord on July 21 to begin talks with a two-week deadline on sharing power after the one-man election.

In the document, the political rivals agreed to take “all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of political violence”. - AFP