DATE=4/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ZIMBABWE (L-ONLY)(CQ)
NUMBER=2-261771
BYLINE=PETA THORNYCROFT
DATELINE=HARARE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Zimbabwe is imposing new restrictions on
political activity in anticipation of parliamentary
elections later this year. Using provisions of a 30-
year-old law introduced by the former Rhodesian
administration to suppress civil rights, political
parties now may no longer transport supporters to
rallies unless they are addressed by the party
president. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare.
TEXT: Many potential voters depend on free transport
to political party rallies. Before political tensions
sharpened two weeks ago, many commercial farmers were
providing transport for their workers to attend
rallies organized by the opposition party, the
Movement for Democratic Change, or M-D-C. President
Robert Mugabe's ruling party also provides transport
to rallies.
The police say the latest prohibition is designed to
reduce escalating political violence. Some analysts,
however, believe this law is aimed at reducing support
for the Movement for Democratic Change, which says it
can only campaign for support through public rallies.
The Movement for Democratic Change is denied access to
the publicly owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation,
which is where most Zimbabweans get their information.
The Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan
Tsvangirai, says his party remains committed to peace.
He said his supporters reserve the right to defend
themselves because the police will not protect them
when they are attacked.
/// Opt /// Last Saturday, a bomb was thrown close to
a privately owned newspaper, The Daily News, which is
sharply critical of President Mugabe's government. A
South African journalist working for the Associated
Press was arrested by police because a car similar to
the one he had rented was reportedly seen by
unidentified witnesses speeding down a street near the
blast. Most foreign journalists heard the bomb from
their nearby hotel and were on the scene within
minutes. /// End Opt ///
The situation in Zimbabwe remains tense and is
spilling over to non-governmental organizations. Many
foreign aid workers have now been withdrawn from rural
areas and civic education officers say they can no
longer work in some parts of Zimbabwe because of fear
of attacks from ruling party supporters. (Signed)
NEB/PT/GE/ENE/JP
27-Apr-2000 11:14 AM EDT (27-Apr-2000 1514 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
