Zimbabwe poll observers report 'horrendous political violence'
Election observers from across Africa have heard “horrendous” accounts of political violence in Zimbabwe, their spokesman said today.
Marwick Khumalo, head of a 64-member Pan-African Parliament observer mission, singled out President Robert Mugabe for criticism
Mr Khumalo said his team had been investigating reports of election violence for several days. His was among the first observer mission at work for a June 27 presidential run-off between President Robert Mugabe and challenger Morgan Tsvangirai.
Independent human rights observers say Mr Mugabe’s police, soldiers and party militants have orchestrated widespread violence aimed at ensuring Mr Mugabe wins after coming in second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round in March.
Meanwhile, police holding Mr Tsvangirai’s party secretary general, Tendai Biti, since Thursday, say he will be charged with treason, which can carry the death penalty.
Today, a High Court judge dismissed an application to have Mr Biti’s continued detention declared unlawful, a lawyer for the opposition leader said.
Judge Tedious Kurwa indicated in his ruling that a treason charge was “grave and complex.”
However, Mr Biti’s lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said representatives for the attorney general had made an undertaking to bring Mr Biti to court tomorrow.
The opposition said in a statement today that Mr Biti was still waiting to be formally charged.
“The police made a lot of noise about their threats to arrest Mr Biti which, in a normal society, would have presupposed they had basis for doing so,” the party statement said.
“Six days later, they still have not charged him, which vindicates our position that the charges are ludicrous, frivolous and vexatious, only intended to frustrate our campaign.”
In recent days, Mr Mugabe has turned up the rhetoric, saying he would go to war before accepting defeat at the polls. He threatened to arrest opposition leaders he accused of supporting mounting election violence, state radio reported today.
Mr Mugabe yesterday accused Mr Tsvangirai and other leaders of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of condoning “arson and violence across the country,” state radio reported.
“Certain elements are indicating that there will be war,” Mr Khumalo said today. “Beating the drums of war is not acceptable in any situation.”
While Mr Khumalo named no names, it was clear he was referring to Mr Mugabe. He also refused to say which side was responsible for fomenting violence, saying his team’s report was not yet complete.
Mr Khumalo described one grisly death other independent observers had said involved the wife of an opposition leader, apparently at the hands of Mugabe supporters. Mr Khumalo said his observers had seen the grave site of a woman “who was chopped up.”
“We have heard so many horrendous stories,” he said. “Now violence is at the top of the agenda of this electoral process, and that is regrettable.”
Mr Khumalo said the Pan-African Parliament, an organisation of MPs from across Africa formed under Africa Union auspices, had sent 40 observers and 24 support staff for the second round.
It had sent 20 observers for the first round in March, which had been peaceful.
Violence broke out only after it became clear Mr Tsvangirai had won the first round, though not, according to official figures, by the 50% plus one vote needed to avoid a run-off.
Mr Mugabe, campaigning in the central Kadoma district yesterday, accused Mr Tsvangirai and other leaders of the MDC of orchestrating violence. He said the opposition leaders faced arrest.
Independent observers have noted some retaliatory attacks, but say the opposition violence does not approach state-sponsored violence in scale or scope.
