Unions barred to observe poll
16/03/2005 16:59  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is the latest in a series of groups barred from observing its country's parliamentary elections, while Amnesty International says the world should be worried about the violence and intimidation in the run-up to the vote.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the government was turning down the labour federation's application to monitor the March 31 vote because it was "partisan and political", according to a statement from the union group.

Chinamasa also accused the union group of regularly attending British Labour Party conferences and calling for the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe, according to the statement.

"These accusations are far from the truth and contemptuous of the role played by the ZCTU in representing workers, who are voters and citizens of this country," the federation said. It said it was seeking legal advice.

The union group has been a vocal critic of Mugabe's government, accusing it of cracking down on dissent and skewing the electoral playing field in favour of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

President Robert Mugabe's government has invited a select number of groups to monitor the election.

European Union and American observers, whom the government accuses of supporting the opposition, were not invited.

London-based Amnesty International said on Wednesday that Zimbabwe's persistent and systematic violations of human rights have made free participation in the election impossible.

It cited evidence of government intimidation and arbitrary arrest of opposition candidates and supporters, manipulation of food distribution for political purposes and severe restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression.

"The climate of intimidation and harassment in which the elections are planned is a serious matter for international concern," Kolawole Olaniyan, the director of Amnesty's African program said in a statement.

Amnesty said it would present its latest findings in a briefing to election monitors ahead of the election.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF party narrowly won the last parliamentary vote in 2000, securing 62 of the 120 elected seats, despite reports of vote rigging and intimidation.

Mugabe nominates 30 other seats, assuring the ruling party a sweeping majority it has used to pass restrictive security and media laws.

- AP

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