Zimbabwe Election: Your Stories
With just days to go before the second round of the presidential election in Zimbabwe, violence seems to be escalating.
Reports of intimidation against opposition supporters have included severe beatings, murders and sexual violence.
But ZANU PF, the ruling party of President Mugabe, denies these reports, blaming the violence instead on the opposition MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
In the first round in March, which was relatively peaceful, Morgan Tsvangirai gained about 120,000 more votes than Robert Mugabe but still not enough to avoid a run-off, according to official results.
BBC website readers in Zimbabwe tell of their recent experiences as the vote approaches. Their names have been changed to protect their identity:
As I write this message police officers are queuing to vote using postal votes. There is no way one can vote for Morgan Tsvangirai because seated on the voting table in Masvingo is the senior commissioner flanked by the assistant commissioners. They tell you ‘vote for our father Mugabe’ and show you where to put your X. Even police officers who were not registered voters were registered after the 29 March elections. I was surprised to see my name and many more others appearing and giving me a constituency. Observers should visit centres where postal ballots are cast because this is rigging at its best. Please let the world know about this forced postal voting.
Tendai, Masvingo
I am a student in my final year of university but I wonder if I will finish my degree. There are rumours of a war breaking out regardless of which party wins. My uncle, who resides in a small town called Chiredzi, fled the country and is now in exile in South Africa. My neighbour who was an independent candidate for the House of Assembly is also in exile. Many people in my parents’ social circles have also left for S Africa. But my dad is being stubborn and refuses to go into hiding. What kind of a country is this? There is such greed and such cruelty. I do not see our nation ever being truly independent as long as Mugabe or his party is in power. They are doing exactly what the regime of Ian Smith regime used to do. This kind of oppression is worse because it is brother against brother.
Kennedy, Chiredzi
I am very disturbed by the situation in my country. What we need is divine intervention because we tried our best by voting for the president we wanted, but now we are being killed, harassed and tortured for exercising our rights. The world should condemn Mr Mugabe and his government for taking the people of Zimbabwe for granted. Only God knows what will happen next.
Chris, Harare
Against the background facing us especially in Masvingo province’s Bikita district, it is inconceivable that the elections will be free and fair. Here a bloody reign of terror has been unleashed on us such that we have resorted to hiding in mountains and other areas for the sake of our security. There is maximum brutality here as ZANU PF militias step up their whacking of the MDC supporters with the direct help of a few deployed soldiers and local ZANU PF supporters.
Michael, Masvingo
This is a nightmare. If anyone were to call this environment conducive to free and fair elections, one must question their sanity. We had three people killed yesterday (one said to be the driver of the MDC MP elect) and now ZANU militia and soldiers have put up road blocks and if you don’t show your support for Mugabe by chanting slogans, you will be severely beaten. They have even gone as far as stopping staff buses and beating up workers on their way to their jobs. Mugabe surely is the devil and these demon friends and supporters of his are ruthless! Powerless as we are, I feel we are heading towards a massacre like the one in 1985-7 and it’s a big ask but the international community has to help us. We need help!
James, Kadoma
I live in an upmarket suburb of Harare and even here the ZANU PF youths have moved in en-masse. They have taken over a piece of wasteland where they drink the local moonshine and smoke ‘mbanje’ before patrolling the streets, carrying hammers, pangas and other assorted weapons, insisting that any person going about their daily business go with them. After they’ve gathered up enough people (to refuse results in a sound beating) they take them back to the wasteland and make them sing patriotic songs and chant ZANU PF slogans for hours. If you don’t do this with enough enthusiasm you are threatened and beaten. People are terrified.
Jane, Harare
The violence just needs to stop. ZANU PF and MDC thugs have taken over and are abducting and killing each other at will. This is not an election, it’s a murderous campaign of senseless killings which will achieve nothing. We are on the brink of absolute anarchy and we shudder to think whether we will be able to retrieve the country from where it is being taken to. God help us.
Farai, Harare
The whole thing has gone out of hand and without intervention we are sitting ducks waiting to be picked off one by one. The elections should not go ahead, they are an excuse for bloodshed. We have been summoned for a meeting in Seke, Unit M - we expect hell if we go but if we don’t go its worse. From a town dominated by MDC less than a month ago to not even one opposition supporter in sight, we must be a bunch of spineless Africans. I’m scared for my family!!!
Joseph, Chitungwiza
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