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Zim denies armed militia claims
21/04/2008 16:43 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Zimbabwean government on Monday denied opposition claims that supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party were taking up arms in the aftermath of the country's disputed elections.
Deputy information minister Bright Matonga said that claims by the Movement for Democratic Change's Secretary-General Tendai Biti that President Robert Mugabe had unleashed a war against the people should be treated with contempt.
"The vigilante groups are those that you find in the media, in ... Mr Biti's head," Matonga said on South African public radio.
"There is nothing of the sort. These are imaginary vigilantes. They are so desperate." Matonga also ridiculed international news reports, which claimed Mugabe supporters were now attacking MDC supporters.
He said: "Where is that international media getting those reports from? They are obviously lies that are being peddled by the MDC to get attention to force President Mugabe out of power through the means of force.
"That process is not going to work. The MDC needs to be more mature, responsible. They are too careless with their statement."
In a press conference on Sunday, Biti charged that 10 MDC supporters had been killed and thousands forced to flee their homes since parliamentary and presidential elections on March 29.
While Zanu-PF lost control of parliament in the elections, the outcome of the presidential poll had still to be announced.
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
