Zimbabwe's forthcoming parliamentary elections could not be free and fair because of the violence used by President Robert Mugabe's supporters, the opposition leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, said yesterday.
"There cannot be a free election under these conditions," he said at a rally for his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Harare's Kuwadzana township. "The violence and intimidation by the ruling party have already ruled out the possibility of free and fair elections."
According to Mr Tsvangirai, 14 MDC members were killed in April by Mr Mugabe's supporters. The number includes two white farmers shot by war veterans who invaded their properties.
Mr Tsvangirai emphasised that the MDC would contest the elections whatever the circumstances. "We must be brave. We must let Mugabe know that he cannot intimidate an entire nation to vote for his party."
Referring to May Day, he said Zimbabwe's workers had "nothing to celebrate because in the 20 years of Mugabe's rule they have seen their standards of living decline". He criticised Mr Mugabe for planning to use his sweeping presidential powers to install new legislation that would allow his government to seize white-owned farmland.
"Mugabe is ruling by decree," he said. "That is not how a democracy should be."
The crowd to see him in Kuwadzana swelled to 2,500 yesterday afternoon. Significantly, another 600 people watched the meeting from the other side of the road. "We want to hear what Tsvangirai says, but we are afraid to go to the rally," said one young man, who did not want to be named. "We like the MDC but the ruling party can attack the rally. Or they can attack people who went to the rally, so we will watch from here." He and others around him said they would vote for the MDC in the parliamentary elections.
Many members of the crowd sported MDC T-shirts emblazoned with slogans "Land to the People, Not to Politicians!" and "Give Mugabe a Red Card". The crowd sang and danced before Mr Tsvangirai arrived. Openhanded waves, the MDC's sign, filled the air when the opposition leader appeared. Mr Tsvangirai urged his followers to be cautious. "If people threaten to burn down your house or beat you because you wear an MDC t-shirt, then put that T-shirt away. Your life is more important than a T-shirt. Safety comes first. Just vote for the MDC," he urged them. "Mugabe is just worried to see that blacks and whites can work together," Mr Tsvangirai said. "That threatens him."