Three people were killed in Zimbabwe in politically-motivated attacks during the first two weeks of this month, bringing the number of deaths since the start of the year to 54, a grouping of rights groups bodies said today.
"The continuing violence claimed a further three lives in the fortnight under review bringing the total number of politically related murders this year to 54, more deaths than were reported in the year 2001," said the rights groups in a report.
The report compiled by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, said that of those who died, 35 were opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters, seven were in the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), two were linked to the liberation war veterans and 10 others were of unknown affiliation.
The majority of the deaths are largely blamed on the pro-government supporters.
"Political violence will continue to claim lives for as long as there is no concerted effort by the government and the police to put an end to it," said the forum.
Political violence surged in Zimbabwe this year ahead of the disputed March 9th-11th presidential elections which were won by President Robert Mugabe.
The Forum mainly comprises 11 non-governmental organisations, including local chapters of Transparency International and Amnesty International.
AFP