Mugabe was the only candidate in the June 27 election after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out saying political violence that he said had killed 86 of his supporters and displaced 200 000 others made a free and fair vote impossible.
However Tsvangirai’s name remained on ballot papers after electoral authorities refused to accept his decision to withdraw a week ago on the grounds of violence against his supporters. He has taken refuge in the Dutch embassy since then.The Pan African Parliament (PAP) observer mission described the environment during the run-up to the election as tense, hostile and volatile resulting in an unfair election.
Swaziland parliamentarian and head of the PAP mission Marwick Khumalo told journalists in Harare that the period leading to last Friday’s vote was characterised by an electoral campaign marred by high levels of intimidation, violence, displacement of people, abductions and loss of life.
The mission observed traces of intimidation and violence in all provinces visited. Houses were burnt down, people assaulted and sustained serious injuries. A number of cases of abduction, some of which resulted in death were reported, said Khumalo.He said as part of their investigations, the mission visited bereaved families and managed to obtain an official post-mortem report of one victim.
Violence disrupted normal life of ordinary Zimbabweans and led to internal displacement of people. A number of cases of abduction, some of which resulted in deaths, were reported, added Khumalo.
The mission, he said, managed to attend campaign rallies organised by Mugabe’s ruling ZANU PF party but was concerned by numerous arrests that Tsvangirai was subjected to before deciding to pull out of the race.
Regrettably, the state-controlled media was used to discredit the opposition candidate in all forms, said Khumalo, who also questioned the independence and impartiality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).The role of ZEC in this particular election has been more wanting than the previous election. Its deafening silence was alarming and created a perception of a sequestrated body, he said.
Khumalo expressed concern at the politicisation of Zimbabwe’s security forces. He said: Overall, the Mission observed that the leadership of the security forces have not changed their position of overt support to the ruling party, following the March harmonised elections. The Mission was dismayed by uniformed forces on duty wearing the ruling party regalia.
There was no immediate response to the PAP mission’s scathing report. But Mugabe last week said his government would not be bothered by criticism coming from any quarter, including from African countries, over the way it handled the election. – ZimOnline
Post published in: News