/ 9 June 2008

Zim opposition fears new crackdown

Zimbabwe’s opposition feared a new crackdown on Monday as authorities vowed to ”get tough” on perpetrators of political violence in the approach to this month’s run-off election.

As a leading rights group warned mounting violence had extinguished chances of a free and fair ballot, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said a vow by authorities to deny bail to anyone suspected of committing or inciting unrest would be used to further hamper their election campaign.

Announcing the plan to systematically refuse bail to anyone suspected of political violence, deputy attorney general Johannes Tomana told the government mouthpiece Herald newspaper that ”Zimbabweans are entitled to security of their lives and property”.

”It does not matter who commits the offence. We are doing this without fear or favour. We will be tough with them now.”

However the MDC chief spokesperson ridiculed the idea that the new directive would be applied even-handedly.

While President Robert Mugabe blames the opposition for an increase in violence ahead of the June 27 poll, the UN’s chief representative in Zimbabwe has said the president’s supporters are to blame for the bulk of it and the only people known to have been arrested on violence charges are MDC followers.

”The law is not applied evenly and not even one Zanu-PF will be locked up,” Chamisa said in reference to Mugabe’s ruling party.

”It’s clear that this measure is meant to target key MDC members and activists and keep them behind bars as a way of hampering the MDC campaign.”

The opposition claims that Mugabe supporters are behind the violence was endorsed by a new report from the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

In its report, HRW documented allegations that Mugabe supporters — including in the army and police force — were killing, abducting and torturing opposition members with impunity.

”Since the run-off was announced the violence in Zimbabwe has gotten even worse,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

”Zimbabweans can’t vote freely if they fear their vote may get them killed.”

The report comes a day after an association of Zimbabwean doctors said they had treated nearly 3 000 victims of political violence since the first round of voting on March 29.

Many MDC supporters who have been injured in the violence have taken shelter at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Speaking after meeting some of the victims on Monday morning, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he was ”deeply shocked” by their plight.

”I can assure you that the people we have met across the country in the past few days are determined to end this suffering on the 27th of June. Let us be strong and finish it,” he added, according to an MDC statement.

Tsvangirai, who is looking to end Mugabe’s 28-year rule on June 27, has himself been beaten in the past by members of the security services while trying to protest against the government.

He election campaign has run into major obstacles and was twice detained by police. Authorities have also banned a series of MDC rallies although a court did rule against the bans at the weekend.

‘Absolute silence’
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance on Monday said African National Congress president Jacob Zuma should speak out on political developments in Zimbabwe.

”In light of the escalating political violence and gross violations of the conditions necessary for a free and fair run-off election in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Alliance calls upon ANC president Jacob Zuma to speak out against the undemocratic tactics of the Mugabe regime,” DA MP Ian Davidson said.

Davidson said Zuma had switched to ”absolute silence” on the subject.

”It is surprising that the leader of the majority party in the country, who has also been very vocal on every significant issue lately, has nothing to say about the situation in Zimbabwe.

”His silence on the recent developments in Harare can be interpreted as approving Mugabe’s assault on democracy. Unless he comes out strongly in condemnation of Mugabe’s crackdown of the opposition, he is also guilty of cheating Zimbabweans of their right to a democratic government.”

”A free and fair run-off election remains the last hope to resolving Zimbabwe’s political crisis and it is the responsibility of all leaders to do everything in their power to make sure that the will of the people of Zimbabwe prevails.” – Sapa, AFP