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Zim voters intimidated - HRW
19/03/2008 20:32 - (SA)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe's supporters have used violence to intimidate opponents in the run-up to next week's Zimbabwe election, undermining chances of a fair poll, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.
Mugabe faces the strongest challenge to his 28-year rule in presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections on March 29 because of defections by senior ruling Zanu-PF party officials and a deepening economic crisis.
"As in previous elections, local government authorities, Zanu-PF supporters, and security forces including the police and central intelligence, are the main perpetrators of the violations ...," the US-based rights group said in a report released in Johannesburg.
Opposition groups have accused Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, of rigging previous elections, allegations he denies.
Political advantage
"Despite some improvements on paper to the election regulations, Zimbabweans aren't free to vote for the candidates of their choice," said Georgette Gagnon, Human Rights Watch's Africa director.
"While there are four candidates running for president and many political parties involved, the election process itself is skewed."
Mugabe hopes to fend off challenges from long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the biggest faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and former finance minister Simba Makoni, who was expelled from Zanu-PF.
Statements by two senior security officials that they would not accept an opposition victory have generated controversy in a largely peaceful campaign ahead of the election.
The government has used state-subsidised food and farming equipment as a tool to gain political advantage, Human Rights Watch said, adding that the report was researched over seven weeks on visits to Zimbabwe's 10 provinces.
Mugabe blames Western foes
Prices of some basic goods, including the staple maize meal, bread, cooking oil and soap, have risen by up to 300% since the start of this month.
Mugabe blames the country's economic troubles on Western foes, especially former colonial master Britain.
The veteran leader has again threatened a crackdown on business leaders accused of hiking prices in what he says is a plot to turn voters against his government.
"The British are manipulating their companies in Zimbabwe to arbitrarily increase prices of goods and services in the hope of turning the electorate against Zanu-PF," Mugabe said in a report broadcast by state media.
"We are not going to accept this madness, (or) these kind of price increases from anyone," he added.
A number of business executives have been arrested in the last week over charges of hiking prices without government authority.
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