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Mugabe defiant as MDC mulls poll Mugabe condemns opposition 'lies'
(about 4 hours later)
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says "only God" can remove him from office, as the opposition MDC considers pulling out from a presidential run-off vote. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has accused the opposition of lying about political violence in the country to cast doubt on forthcoming polls.
"The MDC will never be allowed to rule this country," Mr Mugabe said at a rally in the city of Bulawayo. The opposition MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed and many more beaten in the run-up to next week's presidential run-off election.
The MDC will announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC. "They say this so that they can later say the elections were not free and fair," Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence. He also told supporters that "only God" could remove him from office.
The MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) says about 70 of its supporters have been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes in a state-sponsored campaign of violence since the first round of the presidential elections in March. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will "never be allowed to rule this country", Mr Mugabe said at a rally in the city of Bulawayo on Friday.
We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty, our sweat and all that we fought for Robert MugabeZimbabwean President class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7462721.stm">Your questions answered class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7465101.stm">'Raped for opposing Mugabe' class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4975&edition=1">Send us your comments "We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty," he added.
New footage emerged on Friday, shot by US embassy staff, showing ruling party militias armed with sticks apparently hunting for MDC supporters in a township in the capital, Harare. All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence Augustine ChihuriPolice chief class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7462721.stm">Your questions answered class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7465101.stm">'Raped for opposing Mugabe' class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4975&edition=1">Send us your comments
Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours have voiced increasing concern over the validity of the run-off vote. Mr Mugabe repeated his accusation that the MDC was acting in the interest of Britain, the former colonial power, and other Western countries.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, one of Mr Mugabe's closest allies, has urged him to stop the violence. Later, he was quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper as saying that MDC leaders had been compiling names of people they say are victims of political violence.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, head of an election monitoring team, told the BBC earlier this week that violence appeared to be "escalating throughout Zimbabwe". "They say this so that they can later say the elections were not free and fair. Which is a damn lie!" he said.
Intimidation
Mr Mugabe's police chief, Augustine Chihuri, has claimed that the MDC is the main culprit in the current political violence.
"All necessary force will be applied on malcontents and perpetrators of violence," he said.
"This violence is aimed at intimidating people from voting."
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Zanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare townshipZanu-PF supporters filmed by US embassy staff in Harare township
The MDC is to announce on Monday whether it will contest the 27 June poll, a party source has told the BBC.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who is due to face Mr Mugabe in the run-off - is reported to be under pressure to pull out in view of escalating pre-poll violence.
New footage emerged on Friday, shot by US embassy staff, showing ruling party militias armed with sticks apparently hunting for MDC supporters in a township in the capital, Harare.
Zimbabwe's immediate neighbours have added their voice to increasing international concern over the validity of the run-off.
On Friday Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, one of Mr Mugabe's closest allies, has urged him to stop the violence.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, head of an election monitoring team, told the BBC earlier this week that violence appeared to be "escalating throughout Zimbabwe".
'Charade'
In Brussels, the European Union has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready to take unspecified "additional measures against those responsible for violence".In Brussels, the European Union has drafted a summit statement saying it is ready to take unspecified "additional measures against those responsible for violence".
The EU already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and has placed travel bans on - and frozen the assets of - President Mugabe and other senior government and ruling Zanu-PF party officials. A former Zimbabwean police officer tells of how he was threatened
People are being abducted at night - our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror Nelson ChamisaMDC spokesman The EU already has an arms embargo against Zimbabwe and has placed travel bans on - and frozen the assets of - President Mugabe and senior government and ruling Zanu-PF party officials.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also heavily critical of Zimbabwe's veteran leader:
"Mugabe's increasingly desperate and isolated regime has unleashed still more violence. This is a blatant attempt to intimidate and to steal the election," he said.
Mr Mugabe - who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 - blames Western sanctions for causing the country's economic freefall.Mr Mugabe - who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 - blames Western sanctions for causing the country's economic freefall.
'Charade'
If the MDC does pull out, it will be handing victory to Mr Mugabe, making it a tricky decision to take, says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A former Zimbabean police officer tells of how he was threatened
The MDC suffered at least five violent deaths of activists or their family members this week and its secretary general, Tendai Biti, was charged with treason and subversion.The MDC suffered at least five violent deaths of activists or their family members this week and its secretary general, Tendai Biti, was charged with treason and subversion.
"Differences of opinion" have emerged among the party's senior officials over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC after the leadership met in Harare on Friday."Differences of opinion" have emerged among the party's senior officials over its next move, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC after the leadership met in Harare on Friday.
The party, he said, needed to assess the situation in the country but if conditions did not change, the vote would be a "charade".The party, he said, needed to assess the situation in the country but if conditions did not change, the vote would be a "charade".
"We are assessing the situation as some areas are inaccessible," he added."We are assessing the situation as some areas are inaccessible," he added.
"People are being abducted at night. Our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror. Some of them are staying in the bushes and mountains to avoid Zanu-PF militias. "People are being abducted at night. Our grass-roots activists are being subjected to terror. Some of them are staying in the bushes and mountains to avoid pro-government militias.
"Unless there's a change in conditions on the ground, the election will be a charade."
Are you in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published.Are you in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published.
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