Credibility of elections in jeopardy – Human Rights Watch

The Human Rights Watch said in statement that because of the state’s crackdown against the opposition the June 27 vote could not be free and fair, echoing the views of a key group of southern African foreign ministers who earlier on Thursday said political violence had jeopardised the credibility of the run-off election.   

First the government went after opposition members, now they’re arresting the leaders, said Georgette Gagnon, the New York-based Human Rights Watch’s Africa director. This is another obvious attempt by Mugabe to hijack the election. Where will this escalation of illegality stop? she said.

MDC secretary general, Tendai Biti, remains in police custody facing charges of treason and the death penalty if convicted.

The treason accusations against Tendai Biti are yet another clumsy attempt by the government to stop MDC leaders from campaigning, said Gagnon.

Human Rights Watch urged observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) who have been allowed into Zimbabwe to actively monitor and publicly report on countrywide rights abuses ZANU (PF) to ensure full accountability for those responsible. – ZimOnline