Mugabe wants peaceful poll
13/12/2007 20:23  - (SA)  

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Harare - Zimbabwe's veteran President Robert Mugabe, accused of allowing attacks on his political opponents, has appealed to his supporters not to engage in violence in next year's elections.

In a keynote address at his Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) conference in the capital Harare on Thursday, Mugabe also urged the party to remain united in the countdown to the parliamentary and presidential elections.

"We don't want any violence during campaigns. Campaign peacefully," said Mugabe, who is seeking a sixth term in office at the March polls.

His comments come amid efforts by President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between ZANU-PF and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, several of whose leaders were assaulted by members of Mugabe's security forces earlier this year.

Parliamentary elections in 2000 and the presidential election in 2002 were marred by widespread violence which led Western observers to conclude the ballots were neither free nor fair.

Mugabe has been the subject of a string of Western sanctions since 2002, and came under concerted attack at a weekend EU-Africa summit over his record on human rights.

During the speech, the 83-year-old also told party members not to be distracted by internal divisions ahead of the polls.

"We want unity and less friction," Mugabe told supporters.

"It's not everyone who contests for candidature who succeeds," he added in reference to internal party battles to be selected as ZANU-PF candidates for the elections.

Don't kick the ball away

"I want to check to ensure that candidates (in the primaries) are chosen properly. It's a question of contest and not everyone wins," said Mugabe in a rare reference to divisions within his party.

"If you lose, don't kick the ball out of the pitch in anger. Why join the team in the first place when you kick the ball out of the pitch and yet you can see the goalposts. We are for scoring goals so we want real unity.

"Let's keep together, let's remain united."

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