Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Agenzia Fides) - Are the veterans from the war for independence the President Robert Mugabe’s last card in the play for power versus the opposition? Judging by recent events, the answer would be “yes.” First of all, Mugabe is purging his own party (Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front, ZANU-PF), replacing provincial leaders with ex-soldiers, claiming that the leaders have shown themselves to be insufficiently loyal and irresponsible in their poor support of Mugabe in the elections of this past March 29. In fact, a group within the party has formed and is willing to make a compromise with the opposition party, while another group has arisen in its disapproval, which is comprised of heads of security and intelligence. A case has already been reported of ex-soldiers attacking a local official of the party, accusing its leader of being responsible for the failure of elections in electoral districts.
The party’s leaders would, therefore, be willing to initiate a pressure and intimidation campaign in a second round of Presidential elections. Until now, no results from the elections on March 29 have been made known, however, everyone seems to be of the opinion that the local government is in favor of a second round.
The delay in announcing the March 29 election results has opposition leaders and many analysts fearing a tampering in the electoral process, especially with the recount of votes in parliamentary elections (won by the opposition) in 23 of the 210 electoral districts.
The new party leaders would work in close relation with the military and the party’s militias, also comprised of veterans of the war for independence. These militias are the same ones responsible for the violence reported since March 29. According to local humanitarian aid sources, 150 people were killed at the end of the electoral process.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a civil rights association promoted by local churches (the Catholic Church included) and various NGOs, says that the veterans have created a series of “terror bases” and torture camps, where they are holding captive those who oppose the regime, especially members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the party of Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe’s main competitor in the presidential elections.
Tsvangirai is currently campaigning across the African continent, in efforts to change attitudes of its leaders regarding the country’s crisis. On his visit to Ghana, Tsvangirai met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2008 righe 34, parole 399)
