MURDERS IN ZIM.

Washington – Deadly political violence is continuing in Zimbabwe despite
efforts by African Union leaders to encourage power-sharing between
President Robert Mugabe and his opposition: sources in Midlands province
reported the discovery of six bodies by the Gweru-Kwekwe rail line near the
village of Matshekandumba, situated about 30 kilometers from Midlands
capital Gweru. Attempts to reach police in Gweru were unsuccessful. But
local sources said one of the dead men was a state security agent who tried
to stop colleagues from killing local villagers. Sources said state agents
had been terrorizing villagers in the area for days, beating them for
failing to cast ballots in the June 27 presidential run-off election two
days after which President Robert Mugabe was declared the winner and
inaugurated. Matshekandumba villagers were said have fled the area after the
bodies were discovered. Midlands Chairman Peter Muchengeti of the National
Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, who has been helping local
villagers, told VOA that killings have been on the rise since the run-off.