Zimbabwe's Upcoming Election - Secret Footage of Violence, Threats and Manipulation

IRIN
Voting in Zimbabwe (file photo)
29 July 2013
ThinkAfricaPress

Undercover footage obtained by Think Africa Press suggests that hopes for a peaceful and fair election may be disappointed.

Many national and international observers are holding out hope that Zimbabwe's forthcoming election on 31 July will avoid the kinds of the intimidation, violence and corruption which characterised the previous election in 2008.

Indeed, much of the West has softened its stance regarding President Robert Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF party, while the Africa Union has said it is satisfied with Zimbabwe's preparations for the presidential and legislative elections.

However, this video obtained by Think Africa Press suggests that such optimism may be misplaced.

Consisting of footage filmed secretly in 2012 and 2013 in a range of locations across Zimbabwe, the film exposes the use of violence, intimidation, and the manipulation of access to food and water to control voters.

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