Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Escapes Attack

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More News from that Land of Fun and Non Violence!


Residents of Mvurwi, Zimbabwe surround a vehicle belonging to a member of the Movement For Democratic Change that was attacked Friday July 2, 2004. Morgan Tsvangirai, the president of the Movement For Democratic Change escaped injury from a hail of stones on Friday, July, 2, 2004 in Mvurwi where he had been holding a provincial assemby to discuss preparations for parliamentary elections next March. Tsvangirai was not a passenger in the car seen here. (AP Photo)

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Escapes Attack

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press Writer

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attacked a meeting of opposition politicians with axes, clubs and stones on Friday, injuring several people, opposition party officials said.

Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change, took shelter in his armor-protected car and was not injured, they said.

The violence erupted in Mvurwi, about 60 miles north of Harare, the capital, as about 400 opposition leaders and supporters discussed preparations for parliamentary elections next March. Witnesses said about 200 ruling party ZANU-PF militants attacked the meeting.

"It is an exaggeration to say it was an assassination attempt against him (Tsvangirai), but he could certainly have been killed," said opposition lawmaker David Coltart, who spoke with Tsvangirai shortly afterward.

It wasn't immediately clear how many people were injured or what their conditions were. No comment was available from police.

Opposition rallies have regularly been disrupted by rival party militants in Zimbabwe, which has been wracked by four years of political and economic turmoil since Mugabe ordered the seizure of thousands of white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks.

Since then, political violence has claimed the lives of more than 200 people and tens of thousands of mostly black opposition supporters have fled their homes.

The land seizures, coupled with economic mismanagement, corruption and erratic rains, have crippled the country's agriculture-based economy. Zimbabwe faces record inflation and unemployment, along with acute shortages of food, hard currency, medicine, gasoline and other imports.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=118219

Zimbabwe -- Mugabe slams door on negotiations
Mail & Guardian (SA) ^ | July 5, 2004

Posted on 07/05/2004 7:01:13 AM PDT by Clive

President Robert Mugabe ruled out any new talks with Zimbabwe's opposition on the country's economic and political crisis, citing its alleged ties with Britain, the former colonial power, the state Sunday Mail reported.

Addressing a ruling party assembly, Mugabe alleged the Movement for Democratic Change was taking orders from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government.

Southern African countries that have called for the resumption of dialogue with the opposition "should have realised by now the MDC is an agent of Mr Blair," Mugabe was quoted as saying.

"We cannot have serious discussions with the MDC as they don't have any authority to decide. They still have to report to their masters in Europe," Mugabe said on Saturday, according to the newspaper.

He said Blair had acknowledged in the British Parliament last week that Britain was trying to help bring about "regime change" in Zimbabwe, the newspaper reported.

"If there are any talks that need to be done, they have to be between the British and the Zimbabwean governments," Mugabe was quoted as saying.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has been trying to broker new talks in Zimbabwe after a first round collapsed after disputed presidential elections in 2002.

Mbeki had predicted new talks on an internal political deal would be completed by June this year.

No formal talks have taken place since the first round collapsed when Mugabe demanded the opposition recognise his disputed victory in the presidential polls.

Opposition leaders and independent observers say Mugabe, the only ruler since independence in 1980, used intimidation and vote rigging to win re-election and continue his authoritarian rule.

The opposition refused to drop a court challenge on the poll results. Neighbouring South Africa's policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe has drawn domestic and international criticism.

Zimbabwe faces its worst political and economic crisis since independence from Britain, with soaring inflation and acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine and essential goods.

Mugabe has also intensified a crackdown on dissent, arresting opposition and labour leaders and shutting down the country's only independent daily newspaper. - Sapa-AP