Intimidation expected in Zimbabwe runoff

updated 6:24 p.m. ET June 26, 2008

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's one-candidate presidential runoff is already a footnote, with the world looking beyond Friday's electoral charade to how longtime leader Robert Mugabe can be pushed toward real democracy.

Mugabe — who at the 11th hour told a campaign rally Thursday he was willing to talk to the opposition — is expected to orchestrate a mass turnout, with anyone who tries to stay home subject to attack.

Nigeria joined the chorus of nations in Africa and the West calling for the vote to be postponed, saying Thursday it was doubtful a credible election could be held. It said an observer mission for a West Africa bloc led by a former Nigerian leader had been recalled from Zimbabwe.

The 84-year-old Mugabe has shown little interest in talks with Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, and his government had scoffed at the opposition leader's call Wednesday to work together to form a transitional authority.

'Open to discussion'
But at a campaign rally Thursday, Mugabe said: "We remain open to discussion with the MDC." Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said that did not indicate a softening toward the opposition, however, and any contacts could only take place after Friday's vote.

Mugabe also told the crowd he would be going to Egypt, where a meeting of African Union heads of state is to be held Monday — presumably to attend as a victorious re-elected president.

Tsvangirai announced Sunday he was withdrawing from Friday's vote because state-sponsored violence against his Movement for Democratic Change had made it impossible to run. He then fled to the Dutch Embassy for safety.

Speaking to the BBC World Service from inside the embassy, Tsvangirai said he expected voters would be forced to the polls on Friday.

"There will be massive frog-marching of the people to the polling stations by force," the opposition leader said. "There could be a massive turnout, not because of the will of the people but because of the role of the military and the traditional leaders to force people to these polls."

Still, he told his supporters not to resist if militants from Mugabe's ZANU-PF party or government soldiers force them to go to the polls.

"They should go. If they even vote for ZANU-PF, if they even vote for Mugabe, what does that change?" he said. "It makes no difference because the vote is a fraud."

Tense atmosphere
By Thursday, an atmosphere of tension and fear had settled over the capital.

Businesses and factories closed around noon ahead of Friday's poll. Most schools had been shut since Monday, when teachers at one school called parents to pick up their children because suspected Mugabe militants had been spotted camped on vacant scrubland nearby.

"There are too many people going around. It's like we are under some sort of siege," said Chipo Chihota, standing in a food line near her daughter's closed school.

Trees and lamp posts across Harare were plastered with Mugabe election posters. A few Tsvangirai posters left over from the first round of voting on March 29 were defaced and torn, some with his eyes gouged out.

Peter Nyirenda, owner of a clothing store in eastern Harare, said his shop had been closed since Tuesday. "It's not safe," he said.

In a parking lot for buses in downtown Harare, most minivan taxis and buses were plastered with Mugabe stickers, fliers, posters and flags — put there on orders from militants, several drivers said.

Ruling party pickup trucks filled with youths wearing Mugabe campaign T-shirts and scarves traversed downtown. Some shops locked down their shutters and in a district of Asian-owned stores, extra private security guards were posted.

"There's been a general mobilization of Mugabe's people," said one businessman who gave his name only as Mukesh.

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