(19 Jun 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Political intimidation is causing terror across Zimbabwe ahead of this weekend's general election.
At least 31 people, mostly supporters of the opposition party - the Movement for Democratic Change - have died in political violence since February.
Some of those who have been beaten up by supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party (Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front party) say they are now too afraid to vote and some M-D-C candidates fear this could affect their chances in the election.
The violence that has swept across Zimbabwe started in February when ruling party militants and war veterans began illegally occupying more than 1,400 white-owned farms.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has ordered police not to remove illegal occupiers from white-owned farms, insisting land-hungry blacks were protesting unfair land ownership by whites.
Supporters of the opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change have also been targets for political violence.
ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front party) hardliners are openly roaming the streets to beat up citizens who they think support the M-D-C.
Many M-D-C supporters and several M-D-C candidates have fled their villages to seek refuge in the capital, Harare.
Tichafa Chinomona, from the village of Mutoko, 140 kilometres north of Harare, was attacked last Thursday by 20 ZANU-PF supporters.
Politics is dividing this country across all boundaries - even family ties can mean little.
Amongst the group that attacked Tichafa, was his brother in law, who is a sergeant in the Zimbabwean army.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I saw them going through a friends house, they hid in the fireplace. We just heard people shouting they are here- let's kill them. They are numbering more than 20. We tried to run away but the area was surrounded. So I don't know what hit me in the head here."
SUPERCAPTION: Tichafa Chinomona, political violence victim
Another 11 villagers were beaten up in the same attack and Tichafa has now decided not to return to his village to vote on Sunday.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I won't to go back to vote but what I think is they will kill me. I'm afraid, I won't go back to vote."
SUPERCAPTION: Tichafa Chinomona, political violence victim
His brother, an M-D-C candidate, believes ZANU-PF intimidation could make a critical difference to the weekend poll.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So it is, it is going to have an impact, most of the people are just afraid of their own areas. So I don't know whether they are going to make it home to cast their votes for the party to which they want. So it is going to affect the outcome of the voting system.
SUPERCAPTION: Gents Chinomona, M-D-C candidate
The preparations for this weekend's poll are well underway.
And the M-D-C had a big boost on Sunday with a huge turnout for the final major campaign rally in Harare.
Five times as many supporters attended the opposition organised event than went to President Robert Mugabe's rally organised by the ruling party.
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