Zim authorities vow to get tough

2008-06-09 13:21

Harare - 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 state-run 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.

Law 'not applied evenly'

While President Robert Mugabe blamed the opposition for an increase in violence ahead of the June 27 poll, the United Nations chief representative in Zimbabwe had said the president's supporters were to blame for the bulk of it and the only people known to have been arrested on violence charges were 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 were 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 suppporters - including in the army and police force - were killing, abducting and torturing opposition members with impunity.

Political violence

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

"Zimbabweans can't vote freely if they fear their vote may get them killed."

The report came 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 had been injured in the violence had 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.

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

- AFP