Military

DATE=03/27/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE / ELECTION VIOLENCE (L-O)

NUMBER=2-314524

BYLINE=TENDAI MAPHOSA

DATELINE=HARARE

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Clashes between rival political groups marred the first of two day's in Zimbabwe's special elections. Tendai Maphosa reports from Harare.

TEXT: Tension ran high between supporters of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-P-F party and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change in the Zengeza constituency near Harare where voting for a vacant parliamentary seat started Saturday.

The M-D-C charges that police arrested youth members of both parties after ZANU-P-F sympathizers allegedly tried to stop people they suspected of supporting the opposition from voting.

Chairman of Zimbabwe's independent Electoral Support Network, Reginald Matchaba-Hove, said, while skirmishes had occurred, there were no reports of serious violence. The network confirmed, however, that the home of the opposition candidate was attacked by Zanu-P-F supporters earlier this week.

The Zengeza seat fell vacant after the M-D-C member of parliament for the area went into self-imposed exile, alleging harassment by members of the ruling party.

The M-D-C won 57 in the 150-member parliament in the 2000 parliamentary elections. The ruling party won 62. The remaining 30 were selected by President Mugabe.

The strongly contested Zengeza seat is seen as a test of the ruling party's support in urban areas ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2005. Moreover, should Mr. Mugabe's party win this and less than a handful of other seats, it would acquire the two-thirds majority in the house of parliament in needs to amend the constitution and pass any legislation it wants.

The results will be released Monday. (Signed)

NEB/TM/MAR/RH