Mugabe calls Zimbabwe election

ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe yesterday called a general election on March 31 amid fears that polling could be as violent and flawed as the last vote.

In 2000 parliamentary elections, the opposition came close to toppling Mr Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, despite electoral rules seen as biased in the ruling party’s favour and violence and intimidation blamed on that party.

This time, it was not clear if ZANU-PF would even face opposition. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is due to announce on Thursday if it will contest the election.