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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Violence
intensifies, thousands disenfranchised
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe
(CCDZ)
June 20, 2008
Violence has
intensified and spread to urban areas one week before the presidential
run-off elections scheduled for the 27th June. All indications are
that most people displaced by violence will not be able to cast
their vote in a presidential run-off whose voting is ward based.
Tens of thousands of opposition and civic activists have been declared
persona non grata in the wards and political constituencies in which
they are registered to vote.
The news received today by the Centre for Community Development
In Zimbabwe (CCDZ) indicate that most activists in Murewa, Musana,
Wedza, Mutoko, Bindura, Kadoma, Mhondoro, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Redcliff,
Jerera, Buhera, Chipinge and Mutare have been given a weekend ultimatum
to leave their villagers and go to Harare "to their master"
MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai.
As CCDZ we contend that the strategy by ZANU PF militia to drive
out MDC supporters from the villages is a well-calculated strategy
to disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters.We are also disturbed
by the threats being issued by the youth militia and war veterans
to opposition activists
Violence in Harare and Chitungwiza
The ZANU PF party has unleashed vigilante groups called
Chipangano in urban areas to terrorize voters ahead of the presidential
run-off. Marauding gangs clad in party regalia are moving around
Harare and Chitungwiza townships terrorizing voters and threatening
to kill anyone who votes for MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai.
In Chitungwiza, four (4) bodies of MDC activists abducted last week
were discovered on Wednesday. The violence has also spread to other
high-density suburbs in Harare such as Epworth, Rugare and Dzivarasekwa.
The youth militia are manning illegal roadblocks and forcing people
to recite and chant ZANU PF slogans. Those who cannot recite the
slogan are assaulted and tortured.There is overwhelming evidence
that the presidential run-off is neither free nor fair and does
not conform to the dictates of the SADC Guidelines governing democratic
elections agreed to by State parties, including Zimbabwe at Grand
Baie (Maritius) in 2004.
Visit the CCDZ
fact
sheet
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