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Mugabe Makes Campaign Difficult For Opposition

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The Associated Press

Published: June 7, 2008

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Just three weeks before Zimbabwe's presidential runoff, Robert Mugabe is giving the opposition little room to campaign - detaining its candidate, banning rallies and attacking diplomats who try to investigate political violence.

Even food is being used as a weapon, American and British officials said, with a ban on aid agencies ensuring that the poorest Zimbabweans must turn to Mugabe for help even if they blame him for the collapse of the economy. The government denied the allegations.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai out-polled Mugabe and two other candidates in the first round of voting March 29, but did not get the simple majority necessary to avoid a runoff. In recent days, it has become increasingly clear that Mugabe does not plan to let Tsvangirai come close to toppling him in the June 27 runoff.

Tsvangirai tried to campaign in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, on Friday, but he was stopped at two roadblocks. At the second, he was ordered to go to a police station about 30 miles from Bulawayo.

About two hours later, he and reporters with him were allowed to leave the station. They drove back to Bulawayo under police escort.

His spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, said Tsvangirai was questioned by police for 25 minutes and was told that all party rallies in Zimbabwe had been banned indefinitely.

"We are dismayed that our president has not been allowed to access the Zimbabwean people at a crucial stage in this campaign," Sibotshiwe said.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change said police told them it banned rallies out of concern for the safety of Tsvangirai and other party leaders. Sibotshiwe called the justification "nonsense," and said the ban is "a clear indication that the regime will do everything necessary to remain in power."

The latest setback for Tsvangirai came as U.N. aid agencies said they were deeply concerned that Zimbabwe has ordered aid groups to halt operations. Millions of Zimbabweans depend on international groups for food, medicine and other aid amid the crumbling economy. Without the private agencies, impoverished Zimbabweans will be dependent on the government and Mugabe's party, both of which distribute food and other aid.

U.S. Ambassador James McGee said authorities were now supplying food mostly to Mugabe supporters.

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