Kitsepile Nyathi
11 June 2008
Harare — Zimbabwe is planning to empty its flooded jails of common criminals to make way for people arrested for political violence amid fears President Robert Mugabe's government will step up the persecution of opposition activists ahead of the June 27 presidential run-off election.
Thousands of people, mainly opposition supporters have been arrested since Mr Mugabe lost the first round of the election to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in March on allegations of violence.
Although the United Nations and NGOs blame ruling Zanu PF supporters and former fighters of the country's liberation war loyal to Mr Mugabe for the violence that has killed more than 60 MDC supporters and left thousands injured, the majority of those arrested are from the opposition.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, told state media on Tuesday that he had made proposals for the amnesty to create space for those convicted of political violence.
He said cases of politically motivated violence were on the increase countrywide with a number of murders, abductions and cases of destruction of property recorded. "We are proposing amnesty in order to create space for those convicted of political violence," he said. "We recognise that incidents of political violence are on the increase and we want to take measures to stamp them out."
There are an estimated 20 000 people in Zimbabwe's prisons with a carrying capacity of 18 000. But human rights groups suspect that the population has swelled dramatically since the elections.
In the run up to the March elections, where Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980 to the MDC, the government denied reports that it was emptying jails to make way for opposition activists.
Journalists, lawyers and MDC parliamentarians have been targeted in the crackdown, which the opposition says is intended to cripple its campaign. Mr Mugabe goes into the election as an underdog after losing dismally to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round.
An official at the Attorney General's office said they had adopted a policy of refusing bail to those accused of political violence.
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