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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
Increased
intimidation ahead of next week’s elections
Tichaona
Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
July 24,
2013
http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/07/24/increased-intimidation-ahead-of-next-weeks-elections/
MDC-T President
Morgan Tsvangirai has called on Zimbabweans to repudiate violence
and hatred during and after the upcoming elections, in order to
avoid a repeat
of the 2008 mayhem.
The Prime Minister
made the call during his rallies in Kotwa and Murehwa, Mashonaland
East province, where he came face to face with voter intimidation.
In Kotwa, vendors and shopkeepers were ordered not to sell airtime
or food to anybody wearing an MDC-T shirt.
His rallies
were also poorly attended after Zanu-PF supporters went around the
areas, using loud hailers threatening to deal with anyone seen going
to the MDC-T rallies. About 500 Zanu-PF youths invaded the venue
of Tsvangirai’s rally at Mutoko centre, scaring away people
who had wanted to attend.
Reports say
Tsvangirai, however, managed to address small crowds of between
500 and 2,000 at Mutoko centre and in Murehwa, advising supporters
to go ahead and wear the Zanu-PF regalia for their safety, but to
exercise their free choice inside the ballot box.
Tsvangirai condemned
the actions of the Zanu-PF supporters. He told those who attended
his rallies that intimidation
and electoral violence has the potential to undermine and jeopardise
the whole process.
He said recent
reports of violent events and increasing tensions in the run-up
to the elections are deeply worrying and urged all Zimbabweans ‘to
take the necessary steps to ensure that violence and hatred play
no part in these elections.’
In Mutare on
Tuesday, Zanu-PF youths were seen running around the city threatening
war or a military coup if President Robert Mugabe doesn’t
win the election.
In Chegutu last
week a group of MDC youths led by Bento Tshuma was attacked at Pickstone
mine area by Zanu-PF activists, leaving at least 17 people injured.
No one has been arrested from Zanu-PF.
Earlier this
week, a member of Zanu-PF was arrested for erasing the president’s
face from campaign hats and selling them for $2 each. The alleged
cottage industry was revealed by the mines minister Obert Mpofu,
at a campaign rally in Bulawayo last Sunday, according to NewsDay,
newspaper.
SW Radio
Africa is Zimbabwe's Independent Voice and broadcasts on Short Wave
4880 KHz in the 60m band.
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