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Africa turns up heat on Zimbabwe Africa turns up heat on Zimbabwe
(10 minutes later)
African states monitoring Zimbabwe's election campaign have added their voice to growing international pressure over the presidential run-off vote.African states monitoring Zimbabwe's election campaign have added their voice to growing international pressure over the presidential run-off vote.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, who heads a troika of observer states, told the BBC mounting violence could make a free vote impossible.Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, who heads a troika of observer states, told the BBC mounting violence could make a free vote impossible.
A spokesman for the governing Zanu-PF party dismissed Mr Membe's remarks.A spokesman for the governing Zanu-PF party dismissed Mr Membe's remarks.
A key figure opposition figure, Tendai Biti, has meanwhile been charged with treason and subversion.A key figure opposition figure, Tendai Biti, has meanwhile been charged with treason and subversion.
Mr Biti, who as secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has often deputised for presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested last week after returning from South Africa.Mr Biti, who as secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has often deputised for presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested last week after returning from South Africa.
As the observers were being deployed to those various stations, two people were shot dead Bernard MembeTanzanian Foreign Minister Diary: Militias reach townForeboding rises over ZimbabweAs the observers were being deployed to those various stations, two people were shot dead Bernard MembeTanzanian Foreign Minister Diary: Militias reach townForeboding rises over Zimbabwe
Earlier on Thursday, the opposition said four abducted activists had been found dead near the capital Harare. If convicted, Mr Biti could face the death penalty.
The MDC has reported the discovery near the capital Harare of the bodies of four of its members. They had, it said, been abducted and tortured to death.
An MDC spokesman accused supporters of President Robert Mugabe of being behind the deaths ahead of the 27 June election.An MDC spokesman accused supporters of President Robert Mugabe of being behind the deaths ahead of the 27 June election.
The body of Abigail Chiroto, wife of Harare's recently elected opposition mayor, Emmanuel Chiroto, has also been found. She had reportedly been abducted on Monday along with her son, 4. The body of Abigail Chiroto, wife of Harare's recently elected opposition mayor, Emmanuel Chiroto, has also been found. She had reportedly been abducted on Monday along with her son, 4, while her husband was away.
The UN Security Council is to hold an informal meeting on Zimbabwe on Thursday, in an attempt to maintain international political pressure. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told an informal meeting of the UN Security Council that the actions of Zimbabwe's government have ensured the vote will be neither free nor fair.
"By its actions, the Mugabe regime has given up any pretence that the 27 June elections will be allowed to proceed in a free and fair manner," she said.
Opposition 'derailed'Opposition 'derailed'
Mr Membe was speaking at a news conference on behalf of the three nations from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) monitoring the polls. Mr Membe was speaking at a news conference on behalf of the three nations - Tanzania, Angola and Swaziland - from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) monitoring the polls.
He said that he and his counterparts from Angola and Swaziland would be appealing to their own presidents to take urgent action "so that we can save Zimbabwe".
Many opposition rallies have been banned, so they campaign in busesMany opposition rallies have been banned, so they campaign in buses
"The first impression we have is that if the elections were to take place today, these elections would never be free and fair... because... the report we received still indicates that violence is escalating throughout Zimbabwe," he told the BBC."The first impression we have is that if the elections were to take place today, these elections would never be free and fair... because... the report we received still indicates that violence is escalating throughout Zimbabwe," he told the BBC.
"We have received a report that says on the 16th of June this year, as the observers were being deployed to those various stations, two people were shot dead."We have received a report that says on the 16th of June this year, as the observers were being deployed to those various stations, two people were shot dead.
"Of course, it scared most of these observers to the extent that they had to pose the question of why are we here then, and what are we doing?""Of course, it scared most of these observers to the extent that they had to pose the question of why are we here then, and what are we doing?"
"There is a derailment of Mr Tsvangirai wherever he wants to go to campaign, he's detained at police stations," Mr Membe added."There is a derailment of Mr Tsvangirai wherever he wants to go to campaign, he's detained at police stations," Mr Membe added.
Speaking for the Zimbabwean ruling party, Jerome Macdonald Gumbo accused the Tanzanian foreign minister of bias.Speaking for the Zimbabwean ruling party, Jerome Macdonald Gumbo accused the Tanzanian foreign minister of bias.
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"Skirmishes between the MDC and Zanu-PF are normal but not to the extent that the elections cannot be free and fair," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme."Skirmishes between the MDC and Zanu-PF are normal but not to the extent that the elections cannot be free and fair," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"He [Mr Membe] is biased.""He [Mr Membe] is biased."
Correspondents say SADC is the international grouping with the most influence on Zimbabwe, as it is made up of its neighbours.Correspondents say SADC is the international grouping with the most influence on Zimbabwe, as it is made up of its neighbours.
His remarks are the latest in a growing chorus of opinion across Africa that Zimbabwe's elections now appear to be fatally flawed, the BBC's Peter Greste reports from neighbouring South Africa.His remarks are the latest in a growing chorus of opinion across Africa that Zimbabwe's elections now appear to be fatally flawed, the BBC's Peter Greste reports from neighbouring South Africa.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
On Wednesday, the head of another African observer mission in Zimbabwe - Marwick Khumalo of the pan-African parliamentary group - warned he would not endorse the run-off vote if current levels of violence continued.
Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have also voiced their concern.
Mr Odinga called for international peacekeepers to be deployed.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to chair the UN Security Council meeting.
"You cannot intimidate opponents, you cannot put opponents in jail, you cannot threaten them with charges of treason, and be respected in the international community," she told reporters in Washington.
Observer numbers slashedObserver numbers slashed
Zimbabwe's own independent electoral watchdog, the election support network, says it has at last been formally invited to monitor the poll but only with 500 observers.Zimbabwe's own independent electoral watchdog, the election support network, says it has at last been formally invited to monitor the poll but only with 500 observers.
That is a tiny fraction of the 12,000 the network had hoped to deploy to keep track of the 9,000 polling stations that will be opened on election day.That is a tiny fraction of the 12,000 the network had hoped to deploy to keep track of the 9,000 polling stations that will be opened on election day.
The network has been credited with helping to keep the first round of the election relatively free and fair but even now its members have come under attack, our correspondent says.The network has been credited with helping to keep the first round of the election relatively free and fair but even now its members have come under attack, our correspondent says.
One of its observers was murdered earlier this week.One of its observers was murdered earlier this week.
The MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have now been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence.The MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have now been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence.
Zimbabwean public broadcaster ZBC has also announced it will no longer carry campaign adverts from the MDC. Speaking to BBC Radio Four, Emmanuel Chiroto said his wife's body had been hard to identify.
There are no privately controlled radio or TV stations in Zimbabwe and only a few weekly newspapers, which most people cannot afford. "She was badly swollen, it was like they used a club or some blunt object to smash her head and blood had been coming out of her mouth, nostrils and ears," the mayor-elect of Harare said.
"There was either a stab wound or a bullet wound that hit the abdomen."