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Police threaten to shoot lawyers seeking election result As Zimbabwe's opposition MDC is blocked at every turn, it accuses Robert Mugabe of planning a violent campaign and begs the UN to intervene 'before there is blood in the streets' FOREIGN STAFF in Harare and GETHIN CHAMBERLAIN 6 April 2008 THE POLITICAL turmoil in Zimbabwe worsened yesterday as armed police blocked attempts by opposition parties to force the publication of delayed election results. In a showdown on the steps of the colonial-style High Court building in the capital, Harare, plain-clothes officers brandished guns and threatened to open fire on lawyers who were trying to get inside to put their case to a judge. "We can't go in. They are threatening to shoot. They are saying no one enters the court,'' said lawyer Alec Muchadehama, representing the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). With President Robert Mugabe refusing to relinquish his grip on power and no sign of an end to the deadlock, the likelihood increased that only a second round of voting would determine the outcome of the disputed presidential election. There were widespread fears that the country would now erupt into violence. The MDC has claimed victory in the election, although independent observers say its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, fell short of obtaining an overall majority. Yesterday he accused Mr Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party of preparing a "war'' against the people of Zimbabwe, deploying forces including "liberation war veterans'' to intimidate voters ahead of a run-off vote. Mr Tsvangirai also alleged Mr Mugabe, 84, was using the central bank to print money to pay hired thugs. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, called for the poll results to be published immediately and said international observers must be allowed to monitor any re-run of the election. "We are determined that of course there are international observers if there is a second round,'' he said. "The results have to be published, they cannot be further delayed.'' The delay in publication has roused opposition suspicions that Mr Mugabe is buying time to organise a fightback. Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the MDC, said there were signs that the president - who once boasted of holding a "degree in violence'' - was preparing to crack down on opponents, and called on the outside world to intervene. "They are trying to intimidate people, they are trying to set up the context for unleashing violence. The vampire instincts of this regime are definitely going to come out,'' he said. "But we cannot be alone. We need the international community to help us. "The United Nations has to make sure there is no violence in this country... They should not [wait until]... there is blood in the street, blood in the villages.'' But Thabo Mbeki, the South African president, who was due to meet Mr Brown today to discuss Zimbabwe, said he did not believe international intervention was needed to break the deadlock. At an summit of about 20 world leaders attended by Mr Brown, he said: "I think it is time to wait. Let's see the outcome of the election results. If there is a re-run of the presidential election, let us see what comes out of that.'' Mr Mugabe's supporters have tried to whip up support for the president by claiming that white farmers are planning to take back confiscated land. War veterans, some of them apparently drunk, responded yesterday by taking over a tourist lodge and invading four farms still occupied by whites. The attackers forced owners and staff to flee from Paynanda Lodge, a popular game farm and tourist stop-over on the main road to South Africa, five miles south of the town of Masvingo. Four other farms which still grow crops and rear livestock were invaded and farmers' wives and children have fled to town. Hendrik Olivier, director of the Commercial Farmers' Union, said he feared a repeat of the land invasions of 2000 after Mr Mugabe suffered his first political setback. He denied claims in state media that white farmers were going back to their old farms and threatening settlers. "That is simply not true. There are not hordes of white farmers at the borders waiting to come back. We don't know who to call to help,'' he said. "The police do not want to do anything, they say they are not sure who is in control. They won't intervene or help us. I don't know which minister is still out there. We are in a vacuum.'' Mr Mugabe's opponents can take heart from the knowledge that where once the president could have counted on the support of the police and security forces, police are no longer behind him to a man. On Friday a group of about 40 outside a police station in a small town west of Harare, normally a Zanu-PF stronghold, said they had had enough. One said they would not show up for duty for another national election. "They will have to force us,'' another said. They did not believe they would be paid enough even for last weekend's poll to make it worthwhile. Meanwhile, much of the country remained shut down as its 12 million people waited anxiously to learn how the impasse would end. The brief jubilation when Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority has gone, replaced by fear and depression as Zimbabweans retreated into their homes. In Harare, the streets were eerily quiet yesterday, most of the cafés and bars closed. A few members of the notorious riot squad slouched on street corners near the courts and parliament. The shops, which have never recovered from last July's devastating price freeze, looked even emptier than usual. "This can't carry on,'' said a supermarket owner. "The country is dying, we are in limbo, we have no government now, just knee-jerk reactions. When will we know?'' Many industries were silent after turning off machines on the eve of the poll. "We have some raw materials on hand, but we will not use them until we know what is going to happen politically. We are being forced to sell to the retail sector at below cost, and we can't do that,'' said one industrialist. The MDC had hoped to break the deadlock by persuading the High Court to order the release of election results, arguing there could be no justification for the hold-up because the results of both the parliamentary and presidential elections had already been posted outside each of the 9,000-odd polling stations. But as Mr Muchadehama and fellow MDC lawyer Andrew Makoni arrived at the High Court for a midday hearing yesterday, their path was blocked by three armed police. More officers arrived and a man wearing a Zanu-PF T-shirt threatened lawyers who tried to get into the building. When the lawyers finally gained access, they were told that the judges would not hear the case. It was put back until today to allow the electoral commission more time to prepare its counter-argument. One result that was released yesterday showed that Zanu-PF took 30 seats in elections for the country's senate, or upper house of parliament, with the combined opposition taking the same number. Projections from Zanu-PF and independent observers suggest Mr Tsvangirai will have to face a second round of voting if he wants to deliver a knockout blow, a prospect he regarded as unnecessary. "It is unfair... for President Mugabe even to hint at a run-off,'' said Mr Tsvangirai. "Violence will be the new weapon to reverse the people's will. We won this election without the need for a run-off.'' Branding Mr Mugabe a "lame duck'' president, Mr Tsvangirai said he "must concede to allow us to move on with rebuilding and reconstructing the country''. The confusion surrounding the result was exacerbated by Zanu-PF demands for a recount in 16 parliamentary constituencies, although the deadline for any recount expired 48 hours after results were posted outside polling stations. The parliamentary results stripped Zanu-PF of its control of parliament for the first time since independence in 1980. The MDC believes it is well-placed to increase its lead over Mr Mugabe in the event of a second round of voting. Independent assessments suggest Mr Tsvangirai secured 49 per cent of the original vote to Mr Mugabe's 42 per cent. The winner must secure 50 per cent plus one vote to secure the presidency. Under election rules a run-off should be held within 21 days, but there is growing speculation that Mr Mugabe will use his executive powers to issue a decree to delay the run-off for 90 days, allowing him more time to try to turn the vote in his favour
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