In the lead up to the general election in Zimbabwe, the political situation has become increasingly troubled and there have been increasing levels of political violence. On 28 April 2000 the Commissioner of Police said that some 194 cases of political violence had been reported to the police since January this year. This violence, he said, had mainly been as a result of clashes between the supporters of the ruling party, Zanu (PF) and its biggest rival in the forthcoming elections, the MDC. The figure of 194 reported instances of violence does not capture the scale and extent of the violence that has been occurring, especially from mid-April onwards. This violence has resulted in at least nineteen people being killed and large numbers of persons being injured, some seriously. The violence continues to escalate in the rural areas and is now also increasingly affecting the urban areas. Large numbers of persons are now seeking refuge from the violence in the towns.

There have been violent clashes between supporters of the ruling party, Zanu (PF) and the main political opposition party, the MDC. As regards inter-party violence, although MDC supporters have on some occasions taken violent action against Zanu (PF) members, whether with or without provocation, the majority of the instances of violence and intimidation have been perpetrated by Zanu (PF) supporters upon MDC supporters or suspected supporters. There have been concerted attempts by members of the ruling party and high-ranking police officers to demonise the Movement for Democratic Change and depict them as a party intent on using violence and intimidation to come to power. The State media have given great prominence to violence allegedly committed by MDC supporters whereas they have played down violence allegedly committed by Zanu (PF).

• A few days later speaking in Shona at a ceremony relating to the opening of the water pipeline between the Pungwe and Mutare, President Mugabe said: "Those who try to cause disunity among our people must watch out because death will befall them."
• At the beginning of May at a rally on a farm a leader of war veterans, Comrade Zimbabwe, warned farm workers that the opposition would pay dearly if the opposition won the elections He said: "If ZANU (PF) loses this election, you will not say that I did not warn you. If we lose, we will get out our guns. We cannot allow the MDC to sell our country." He also said: "We will be at the voting stations. If ZANU-PF loses, the way forward will be filled with war," You will witness our strength in the coming weeks. Comrade Zimbabwe wore a T shirt marked "No Monkey Business – Vote Zanu PF".

• In mid-May the Masvingo Provincial Governor, Josaya Hungwe, threatened white commercial farmers in Chiredzi with war if they did not vote for the ruling party. He said he was not happy with the attitude of some of the farmers who were supporters of the MDC. They should vote for Zanu (PF) if they want peace. He said "We do not want another war. If you want peace you should support me and the ruling party. . . If you want trouble then vote for another party."

Clashes between members of rival political parties have resulted in injuries to supporters of the political parties. In January, February and March both MDC and Zanu (PF) supporters were the aggressors in these clashes. Both Zanu (PF) and MDC supporters were injured in these clashes and property belonging to members of both parties was damaged or destroyed. However, from April onwards Zanu (PF) stepped up its campaign of intimidation against the MDC and nearly all of the reported incidents of political violence and intimidation since April have been by supporters of the ruling party upon members of the MDC.

War veterans and other supporters of Zanu (PF) have been marauding around various parts of the country looking for members of the MDC and beating them up. These beatings are often very severe. One MDC Parliamentary candidate has been severely beaten up by Zanu (PF) supporters and the property of two other MDC Parliamentary candidates have been bombed. As pointed out above, the relatives of another MDC Parliamentary candidate were severely beaten, leading to the death of the candidate’s brother. The aim of these attacks upon MDC candidates and their relatives is obviously to cause such fear that MDC candidates in rural areas will withdraw or MDC will be unable to find candidates to stand in some of these constituencies.

Some white farmers who are supporters of the MDC have also been beaten. Some MDC supporters have been kidnapped by supporters of the ruling party and taken to places such as farms occupied by the war veterans and interrogation centres and beaten up. There have also been reports of members of the ruling party or the Central Intelligence Organisation masquerading as MDC members by wearing MDC tee shirts and beating people who have greeted them in such a way as to indicate sympathy for MDC.

Zanu (PF) supporters have mounted a full scale campaign to intimidate farm labourers and communal dwellers into supporting Zanu (PF) by beating them. Some of these beatings have been very severe and in some instances they have led to the deaths of the victims. In at least two cases farm workers have suffered severe burns after being doused with inflammable liquid and then set on fire. During this onslaught against farm workers many houses belonging to farm workers have been set on fire and the possessions of the workers have been destroyed. Several women have been raped. Teachers have been attacked by Zanu (PF) supporters because it alleged that many teachers support the MDC and that they helped the campaign to reject the draft constitution. Nurses have also been beaten for allegedly supporting the MDC.

In some rural areas the Zanu (PF) supporters perpetrating violence against farm workers and villagers have warned staff at hospitals and clinics in the area not to give any medical treatment to persons who have been assaulted for being members of MDC. The staff have been told that they will be beaten if they give such treatment to these people.

Some prominent members of the MDC, including its President, have received death threats. A number of other people perceived to be sympathetic to the MCD or to be critical of President Mugabe and the ruling party have also received death threats. In this latter category have been persons such as the Editor of a daily newspaper and an Anglican priest.

In a number of instances on farms owned by whites, farmhouses, farm workers’ houses, tobacco barns, motor vehicles and other property have been set on fire. The premises of a daily newspaper known to be critical of government were damaged when a bomb exploded in premises adjoining the offices of the newspaper.

Also in May, Didymus Mutasa, Zanu (PF) secretary for administration said "The opposition has chosen the path of violence and our members are just fighting back, defending themselves... They attack our members and then run to the outside world to point fingers at us."

As part of a crude campaign to depict MDC as a party that uses violence in mid-April two Government Ministers announced at a press conference that it had intercepted an MDC document containing details of a supposed plot between the MDC, the CFU, the British and American governments, Zimbabwean industrialists and businesspeople, former Selous Scouts and sundry other white racists in South Africa. This alleged plot involves sabotaging the Zimbabwean economy and to giving military training to MDC cadres on various commercial farms around the country. This document was palpably a false document. All those alleged to have been involved in this so-called plot vehemently deny any such involvement. This includes the MDC. Clearly if the document had been genuine the conspirators would have laid themselves open to a whole variety of criminal charges. No one has been arrested or charged in connection with this alleged plot.

In fact the evidence establishes that Zanu (PF) supporters and government agents have been responsible for most of the cases of serious violence, such as murder, rape and assaults resulting in bad injuries. No Zanu (PF) supporters have been killed whereas a number of MDC supporters have been died from firebombing, shooting and fatal assaults.

No government leader or official has condemned the violence that has been directed against members of the MDC or expressed regret for the violent deaths of MDC supporters. Because of this the impression has been created that the Zanu (PF) supporters, members of the CIO and some army officers have been given licence to engage in this terror campaign.