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2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
His
rallies blocked, Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai courts voters one at a time
Netsai Mlilo, Blessing Zulu, Patience Rusere
& Martin Ngwenya, VOA News
June 02, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-06-02-voa51.cfm
Zimbabwean opposition
presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, constrained in his campaigning
options by police obstruction of rallies, staged a walkabout in
the second city of Bulawayo on Monday as he did in Hwange and Victoria
falls this weekend. Officials in those two cities blocked rallies
by the founder of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
by closing off access to the planned rally venues. Tsvangirai told
VOA after his campaign on foot in Bulawayo that he was energized
by the enthusiastic response from the voters he met. In Harare,
meanwhile, rival MDC formation chief Arthur Mutambara was expected
in court Tuesday for arraignment on charges arising from the publication
in April by the Standard newspaper of an article
he wrote blasting President Robert Mugabe. Police arrested
Mutambara on Sunday at his home in Marlborough, Harare. Sources
said he was being held at the Matapi police station in Harare's
Mbare section.
Also in custody
on Monday was parliamentarian-elect Eric Matinenga of the Buhera
West constituency in eastern Manicaland province, arrested Saturday
for allegedly inciting violence. He was headed for Mutare magistrate's
courts today. Mutambara's lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, told VOA
that not only was his client being held without cause, but the place
of his detention was inappropriate as the Matapi police station
has been condemned as unfit for human habitation. National
Constitutional Assembly Director Earnest Mudzengi said Mutambara's
arrest looked like an afterthought, as the editor of the Standard,
Davidson Maruziva,
was arrested last month for publishing the offending article. From
Botswana, our correspondent reported that some Zimbabweans who fled
political violence say they're ready to go back home to vote
in the presidential election run-off set for June 27, as many of
them are finding life tough in Botswana and are determined to try
to bring about change through the ballot box.
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