Mugabe party gets controversial election win

President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party today controversially won a by-election that independent observers said was marred by violence, intimidation, vote buying and rigging.

The election in the Zengeza district near Harare was won by Zanu over the opposition.

Independent observers said the two days of voting and the electioneering period leading up to it was far from free and fair.

Onlookers alleged that a government minister fired the shots that killed one opposition supporter and injured two others south of Harare, the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network said.

In a second incident, opposition party candidate James Makore fired three warning shots into the air to disperse what he called a “rowdy mob descending on him” near a polling station.

At least 50 people were injured in clashes between rival groups, hospital officials said.

The election was called after opposition MP Tafadzwa Musekiwa fled to Britain, claiming he was the victim of politically-motivated assaults and death threats.

Dr Reginald Matchaba-Hove, head of the Election Support Network, said observers reported irregularities and intimidation across the district.

“Free and fair elections can only take place in a tolerant political environment,” he said.

He said ruling party militants were camped outside polling stations and took down the names of voters.

Observers saw two women accused of voting for the opposition being assaulted and heavily armed troops, and police were deployed in the district to instil fear in voters.

“It is also worrisome that law enforcement agents are mentioned among the perpetrators of violence,” the network said.

It said ruling party militants moved around the district in large numbers, hindering campaigning.

Most opposition meetings and rallies were cancelled, their posters torn down and replaced by ruling party ones.

A voting instruction poster showed voters how to cast their ballots by placing their cross in the ruling party’s column.

Along with a few elderly and infirm voters were “a large number youths” requesting assistance from polling officers to cast their vote because they were either illiterate, sick or had “blurred vision or unsteady hands,” the network said.