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From a rally of the ruling party in the east, to a door-to-door campaign of opposition in the northwest, Zimbabweans have experienced the novelty of the past. a relatively free and peaceful election campaign
. In Nyahukwe, the villagers listened to the politicians of President Mnangagwa's ZANU-PF party in an atmosphere they felt was much more relaxed than under the former leader Robert Mugabe
"This is presented as the The most peaceful campaign. "Patrick Makonde, 59, who has voted in all elections since the independence of Britain in 1980, told AFP
that Mr. Makonde saw real differences from previous elections. he said. "Young people support their own parties, while we stick to our own party."
Some 200 kilometers to the northwest, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Domboshawa door to door outside Harare, dressed in their distinctive red colors when distributing the pamphlets.
"This year is good, people are free to express themselves," he said. exercise their rights, which was previously impossible, "says Rabina Madziva, mother of one, after meeting the MDC team
" Under Mugabe, politicians ruled with a hand of iron – whatever they said, you should do it. "
– Past Violent –
Elections since the creation in 1999 of the MDC – the most credible opposition party – have been marked by violence, rural voters facing the brunt of violence, coercion and intimidation
In 2008, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the second round. after last year's storm attacks, ZANU-PF has claimed at least 200 of its supporters.
This year's election, July 30, was not free of violence – an explosion narrowly missed Mnangagwa at an election rally.
And "We The People", a group of 7,000 citizens monitoring incidents, reported 105 reports of threats of violence and 19 cases of actual violence during the week of July 9-15.
The perpetrators have threatened "The extreme violence should lose ZANU-PF, or the presidential election is expected to continue," the group said. "The acts of violence included beatings, arson and attempts at aggression".
Earlier this month, police reported receiving fewer reports of electoral violence than in previous campaigns.
And an Afrobarometer poll of 2400 people across the country found "a political atmosphere a little more open". campaign more freely. [19659018] Mnangagwa, a ZANU-PF loyalist who took over from ousted Mugabe in November, promised a free and fair vote and invited international observers – including teams from the European Union and Commonwealth previously prohibited. ? –
But Human Rights Watch's director for Southern Africa, Dewa Mavhinga, warned that intimidation was occurring in some rural areas and that violence could increase if the vote seemed close or challenged because of an alleged fraud. this election and that is why he preaches peace … but those deep down in ZANU-PF are uncertain and nervous, "said Mavhinga.
" The factory default configuration for ZANU- PF is violence, "he said, adding that it would happen" suddenly and quickly because the machinery of violence remains intact, it is simply not used. "
For the moment, Rural voters hope that the election will bring stability and economic recovery after years of decline. "I was born and raised in a country in crisis, we heard our parents say that life was beautiful, that there was money, money with value, "said Joseph Mvere, 22, the first time this year.
" I was still very young in 2008, but this election was terrible, "added newly married Mvere, while he was returning home from buying pea plants in on his vegetable garden
"The situation has changed. Now we are campaigning more like civilized people.
Mnangagwa, on the left, and Chamisa leading the July 30 elections
The previous elections in Zimbabwe were marked by a climate of intimidation – the prelude to the historic election of July 30 was remarkable until Now for his sense of freedom and openness, say the inhabitants of the rural areas (File picture)
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