World

Unrest In Zimbabwe As Elections Near

January 15, 2002 / 9:56 AM EST / AP

The U.S. State Department's top human rights official arrived in Zimbabwe Tuesday as ruling party lawmakers prepared to push through a bill intended to muzzle the media — the latest in a series of measures intended to crush dissent.

On Monday President Robert Mugabe pledged to ensure March's presidential elections were free and fair, and agreed to allow international observers and journalists to witness them.

Mugabe is fighting for his political survival and has cracked down on the opposition both through legislation and government sanctioned violence, making the prospects of free elections unlikely.

Instability in Zimbabwe could have repercussions for all of southern Africa and the visit of Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Lorne Craner was aimed at helping ensure elections were held freely.

"His trip demonstrates the U.S. government's continuing concern about respect for human rights in Zimbabwe and our desire to assist in preparing for free, fair and peaceful presidential elections," said Bruce Wharton, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe.

Craner was scheduled to meet with government officials, civil and business leaders during his visit, Wharton said.

Parliament was scheduled to debate the so-called media law on Tuesday. If adopted, it would muzzle the independent press in Zimbabwe — banning foreign journalists from working in the country and requiring local journalists to register with the government or face up to two years in jail.

Last week, Parliament adopted laws that gave the police sweeping powers of arrest and seizure during the campaign and limited independent election monitoring.

David Coltart, a high ranking member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the 56 opposition lawmakers would fight passage of the bill but said it probably would be passed by the ruling party members who make up the majority of Parliament.

Zimbabwe's crumbling democracy has sparked concern throughout Africa and the international community.

In the latest round of violence, David Mpala, an opposition lawmaker, was wounded critically after 20 ruling party militants attacked him, slitting his abdomen, opposition officials said Tuesday.

Opposition spokesman Learnmore Jongwe said the attack was politically motivated and exposed what he described as the hypocrisy of the ruling ZANU-PF party after Mugabe told fellow regional leaders at a summit in Malawi Monday that there would be no political violence.

Also Monday, ruling party militants reportedly beat and seriously injured Patrick Ashton, a 53-year-old white farmer in Mutoroshanga, 56 miles north of Harare.

Meanwhile the police said two Movement for Democratic Change activists were arrested for attacking a group of ruling party youths with logs and axes in Nkayi, 162 miles southwest of Harare.

The incidents followed a weekend of unrest. An office of the opposition party office was burned and several opposition party activists were criticlly injured after being beaten by ruling party militants, according to opposition officials.

Last week government-backed militants embarked on a fresh looting campaign of white-owned farms, forcing 23 landowners from their homes.

Mugabe said he has embarked on a legitimate campaign of land reform, working to distribute farms to landless blacks. But his opponents and human rights groups say he is sanctioning violent land seizures in a bid to gain support ahead of elections.