The MDC needs to get serious as Zanu-PF intensifies its election strategy of intimidation and violence, an analyst has warned.

Commentators point to how Zanu-PF has used the troubled constitutional outreach exercise to mobilise support, with widespread reports of its members intimidating and assaulting locals and MDC activists, trying to force them to endorse its views. In addition to this campaign of violence, Zanu-PF has stated that it is completely ready for an election.

More recently the Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu organized for ZBC to broadcast pro Zanu-PF jingles which encourage Zimbabweans to rally behind Robert Mugabe while denouncing the MDC-T party.

Poliical commentator Dr. Brilliant Mhlanga said on Tuesday: "The MDC have been behaving as if it is business as usual, when they know that Zanu-PF is playing the game during the day, and then at night they are politicking, doing things that are completely opposite to the letter and the spirit of the Global Political Agreement. They must have learnt this by now, they should be smart enough to understand this."

He added; "It is simply one way of keeping their supporters abreast in terms of understanding political developments of the country, and it is a way of mobilizing their supporters." He also said: "Zanu-PF is just trying to prove to everyone that they are raging, raring to go any minute."

But MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said his party is fully aware of Zanu-PF's election mode: "It would appear they are ready for an election, their conduct, body language, behavior is reminiscent of a party that is trying to position itself for a fight. It would appear they are trying to get their ducks in a row for the purpose of an election."

Chamisa furiously denied the MDC-T was not acting seriously, saying the party is working towards a legitimate election. "We need a legitimate election that will produce an outcome that is not going to breed another outright outfit of illegitimacy."

But Mhlanga said that the MDC needs to shake itself out of the game that Zanu-PF has led it into. "The situation is simple, the MDC needs to come out of this Mercedes Benz mode of assuming they are already in power." He added; "The reality is that the MDC must fold up their shirts and begin to be on the ground, digging with the people."