Mugabe raises fear of election violence

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe branded opposition supporters as traitors yesterday, raising fears of political violence ahead of Zimbabwe's general election.

"All those who will vote for the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) are traitors," Mugabe told a ruling ZANU-PF party rally at Mutoko, 90 miles north-east of Harare.

Similar comments by the president in the past have encouraged party and youth militias to take violent action against opposition supporters and candidates.

Mr Mugabe's speech come in the wake of a weekend call by Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo for a "non-violent mass popular uprising" if the ruling party wins the election by fraud.

Speaking yesterday, Archbishop Ncube said Mr Mugabe's "traitor" accusation revived ominous memories of moves against suspected opposition voters after previous elections.

In 1985, tens of thousands of black families were evicted from their homes into midwinter cold until they could produce ruling party cards. That year, Mr Mugabe told victorious supporters: "Now take your sticks and beat out the snakes among you."

Parliamentary elections in 2000 and presidential elections in 2002 were marred by widespread state-sanctioned political violence and intimidation.

"It may be quiet now, but we are not sure what will happen after these elections," said Archbishop Ncube. "They (ZANU-PF) might go around punishing people and beating them up - they are very violent. You are dealing with people who bullied everyone into silence in the past."

He added that he has been followed and all his telephones are tapped.

Reginald Matshaba-Hove, director of Zimbabwe's independent Electoral Support Network, said he was concerned about Mr Mugabe's comment and had asked foreign observers to stay in the country for at least a week after the polls.

Archbishop Ncube said he believes intimidation of voters by political control of food distribution, and rigging, will ensure the appearance of victory for ZANU-PF.

In interviews over the weekend he told reporters: "I hope that people will get so disillusioned that they really organise against the government and kick him out by a non-violent popular uprising."

Mr Mugabe told the rally in Mutoko that they must remain loyal to the ruling party because since parliamentary elections in 2000 the area has given ZANU-PF the largest majority in the country.

The opposition party claims ruling party militants already have made the area a "no-go area" for opposition supporters.

At previous rallies Mr Mugabe has described adherents of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai as puppets of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and alleged they plan to return the country to its pre-1980 status as the breakaway colony of Rhodesia.

He has repeatedly referred to the seven-year guerrilla war for black rule which cost over 30,000 lives.