MDC officials and activists living in an ‘atmosphere of fear’
By Tichaona Sibanda
5 June 2008

A top official of the MDC disclosed on Thursday that most of it’s members were living in fear of being abducted and murdered, as state sponsored violence wreaks havoc in rural areas.
Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro said the situation in the rural areas resembled a war zone, with the movement of armed bands across the whole of the country.

‘Personal security is a constant worry and none of us feel safe at all. It’s virtually impossible to mount any meaningful campaign, even in urban areas,’ the MDC MP elect for Gutu South said.
Since the 29th March elections, the regime has waged a retributive campaign against MDC supporters and activists, in retaliation for the shock defeat of Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF. Soldiers, war veterans and militias have been attacking communities, abducting, torturing and killing political opponents.
Mukonoweshuro observed that the campaign was meant to disrupt the electoral process in many parts of the country, making it impossible for voters to freely express their will.

‘This violence and attempts to manipulate the campaign sadly cast a shadow over the forthcoming presidential run-off. The violence is an unacceptable breach of peace and peoples’ democratic rights,’ Mukonoweshuro said.

He added that it was most unfortunate that a sizable proportion of the electorate was being deprived of the right to express it’s will in the elections due to the irresponsible, violent and destructive actions of Zanu-PF.

‘Such actions are not conducive to the democratic process. Unfortunately, the lack of response to the numerous violations we reported soon after the harmonised elections did little to prevent the serious incidents of violence that have taken place in the last two months. We urgently urge the deployment of SADC monitors and observers to come and witness these atrocities,’ the MP said.