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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Tsvangirai public meetings banned in Zim-bob |
| 2008-06-07 |
| The Zimbabwean The police told Tsvangirai of the ban, ostensibly over concerns for his safety, when he was arrested for a second time this week while trying to campaign. But the move appears to reflect a growing concern in Mugabe's camp that its strategy of violence, intimidation and nationalist appeals will not be sufficient to ensure victory in the June 27 vote after Tsvangirai won the first round in March but fell just short of an outright majority. The ban on opposition rallies came a day after the government barred international aid agencies, including the United Nations, from working in Zimbabwe for the duration of the election campaign. Tsvangirai was attempting to campaign in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, when he was detained and taken to a police station about 30 miles from the city. He was released after about two hours but with a warning that he was not permitted to campaign any more, according to his spokesman, George Sibotshiwe. "We are dismayed that our president has not been allowed to access the Zimbabwean people at a crucial stage in this campaign," he said. The security forces had already blocked Tsvangirai from holding rallies by sending soldiers to occupy stadiums booked by the MDC and to intimidate ordinary people into staying away. But the MDC leader had continued to hold small, sometimes impromptu, meetings. Sibotshiwe said the claim by police that the formal ban was solely intended to protect Tsvangirai and other MDC leaders was "nonsense" and "a clear indication that the regime will do everything necessary to remain in power". Zanu-PF was clearly shocked after the first round of elections at the inroads Tsvangirai made into the ruling party's former strongholds, particularly in Mashonaland. The MDC leader had campaigned heavily in rural areas for the first time because of the relative lack of violence compared to other recent elections. |
| Posted by:Steve White |