from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
HARARE – HUMAN rights groups are worried by the possibility of violent elections in Zimbabwe, less than a week before polls are held.
Final preparations for the polls, the first not to feature longtime leader Robert Mugabe, have coincided with tensions between and within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance.
Rights groups have documented sporadic violence across the country, marked by intimidation and threats of post-election violence, particularly in rural areas.
Among victims is MDC Alliance aspirant, Crispa Musoni (aged 76), who has allegedly been attacked by security guards of party leader, Nelson Chamisa.
This comes in the wake of the infighting bedeviling the party after the death of its president, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Security guards allegedly assaulted Musoni and sprayed an unidentified substance into his eyes.
Two men have been arrested in the capital Harare for allegedly attacking freelance journalist, Tamuka Charakupa, while covering clashes between MDC-Alliance and ZANU-PF youths.
Police are also investigating cases of political violence and intimidation between supporters of ZANU-PF and the National Patriotic Front (NPF), a new party comprising supporters of Mugabe following his expulsion from ZANU-PF late last year.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum recently reported the injury of 13 supporters during ZANU-PF intra-party violence around Epworth in Harare.
Some 100 ZANU-PF youth, angered by posters of Chamisa, have allegedly beaten up some Chitungwiza residents.
The allegedly looted properties, vandalised houses and cars.
Human Rights Watch said the violence defied repeated calls by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for peaceful, free and fair elections.
-CAJ News
