'Horrific' abuse in Zimbabwe preventing free vote
Monday, 09 Jun 2008 11:51
Abuse and repression of opposition in Zimbabwe renders this month's presidential runoff 'neither free nor fair'
The systematic abuse and repression of political opposition in
Zimbabwe mean this month's presidential runoff will be neither free nor fair, a report said on Monday.
Human Rights Watch accused Robert Mugabe's government of presiding over a campaign of violence and intimidation since the inconclusive presidential vote of March 29th.
Since neither Mr Mugabe nor Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to gain a 50 per cent vote share, Human Rights Watch claimed there has been a sharp rise in the number of abductions, beatings, incidents of torture and killings.
Zimbabweans go to the polls again on June 27th, but the chances of a democratic result are improbable, Human Rights Watch said.
The New York-based organisation is urging the
African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to use their influence to press for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the abuses since the end of March.
Today's report accused agents and officials of Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party of instigating 36 politically-motivated deaths and creating 2,000 victims of violence.
"Since the runoff was announced the violence in Zimbabwe has gotten even worse," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said.
"Zimbabweans can't vote freely if they fear their vote may get them killed."
Mr Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since the turn of the 1980s, but his regime has soured to feature mass unemployment, hyperinflation and exorbitant food prices.
The veteran president's appearance at a UN food price summit in Rome last week was likened to Cambodian Pol Pot appearing at a human rights discussion.
According to Human Rights Watch, Mr Mugabe, facing the most serious challenge to his 28-year leadership of the country, has established torture and 're-education' camps to deal with political opponents.
The group's report quotes a member of the presidential guard as telling an MDC rally: "All MDC members in Mt Darwin must be made to disappear, we are busy training our youths to do just that."
Logs, whips, bicycle chains and other forms of torture are employed at the camps, Human Rights Watch said.
Ms Gagnon added Mr Mugabe and his government bore "full responsibility" for the serious crimes and called on the AU and SADC not to "turn a blind eye" to the abuse.
"[Mr Mugabe and his government] have shown gross indifference to the plight of the people, allowing senior-ranking security officers, 'war veterans,' youth militia and Zanu-PF free rein to commit horrifying abuses," she concluded.