Zimbabwe finally fulfills dream of election campaign without violence – La Libre Afrique

Opposition reigns supreme in his village of Domboshawa, north of Harare, yet serenity prevails in the run-up to the July 30 general election, the first since the fall of President Robert Mugabe's November

"I can say that this election campaign is different," says Michelle, "the previous ones were very violent but this year it's pretty quiet, we're no longer forced to do anything "

" It's a good year, people are free to say what they think, "says Rabina Madziva, unemployed, too.

But she remains cautious. "With politics, you never know what can happen after the vote," she adds, "I hope there will be no fraud."

Under the long reign of Robert Mugabe, fraud, intimidation and electoral violence were the rule. The ruffians of the president did not hesitate to beat up, torture or suppress the supporters of the opposition to ensure victory.

In 2008, these brutalities reached such a level that they convinced the leader of the Movement to a democratic change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai to give up the second round of the presidential election. He was first in the lead.

Finally released by the army and his party, the Zanu-PF, "comrade Bob", 94 spring today, was forced to return the country's keys in November after thirty-seven years of reign.

His successor Emmerson Mnangagwa, long a close friend of the country's former ruler, has since promised that the first general elections without Robert Mugabe would be "free, transparent and honest.

– 'New Culture' –

His past as an executor of the repressive labor of the old regime made him doubt more than one.

But finally, apart from the attempt to assassination – attributed to a faction of his own party – which targeted in June the head of state at a public meeting in Bulawayo (south), serious incidents were rare during the campaign.

"I think that Mugabe's departure has promoted a n new culture in the country, "said Handsome Madziva, 53, a peasant from Nyahukwe, a village about 200 km southeast of Domboshawa.

Again, the election campaign was peaceful.

" It's the most peaceful I've ever known, "says Patrick Makonde, a 59-year-old voter who has participated in all the polls since his country's independence in 1980." No one knows. "

was hit. Everyone is free to campaign for whoever he wants, "says grandfather, a long time supporter of Zanu-PF. "Young people support their (opposition) parties and we, we keep our trust in the one we have always defended."

Until then without major incident. Then Patrick Makonde finally hopes to live on July 30th his first "normal" election.

– 'Febrilité' –

Illustration of this change of mood, the MDC election meetings attracted crowds unprecedented, even in the traditional rural strongholds of Zanu-PF.

Long regarded as the most effective electoral agents of the ruling party, the highly influential traditional leaders have been urged by justice to stand by distance from electoral operations

Despite the general improvement in the political climate, attempts to intimidate or pressure Zanu-PF have not disappeared, NGOs report.

They, "We the People of Zimbabwe" (WTPZ), claim to have identified 249 cases of threats in June in the country. "Bullying remains widespread and on the rise," she said in a July 9 report.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) regional chief Dewa Mavhinga is doubtful about converting local leaders ruling party to the moderation of their staff.

"Mnangagwa preaches peace to take advantage of the legitimacy of the vote but those at the bottom of the Zanu-PF hierarchy are feverish," worries M Mavhinga, "the use of violence remains in their genes."

Not enough to worry Joshua Mvere. "I was young in 2008 but I remember that the election was terrible," says the 22-year-old married, "but today we are campaigning like civilized people."

And even though he has long hesitated, that's for sure, on July 30 he will vote for the first time.

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