Militias 'to rig Zimbabwe poll'


The opposition says Thabo Mbeki (l) is too close to Robert Mugabe (r)



Zimbabwe's "war veterans" militia plan to intimidate voters by posing as police officers during the presidential run-off a policeman has told the BBC.
He said they would be based inside polling stations during the vote whose date has not yet been fixed.
The report came as South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki the lead Zimbabwe negotiator held talks with President Robert Mugabe in Harare.
He has not commented since the talks which lasted four hours.
Mr Mbeki has previously played down talk of a crisis in Zimbabwe.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) believes Mr Mbeki favours a government of national unity.

Zanu-PF are determined to continue ruling the country and continue destroying it


Police officer




The MDC says this could only happen if Mr Mugabe steps down and has previously criticised the South Africa-led mediation.
Meanwhile two leading trade union officials have been arrested.
The MDC says its supporters are being systematically targeted by the "war veterans" and other supporters of President Mugabe ahead of the run-off.
A trade union official on Thursday said that 40000 farm-workers and their relatives had fled their homes because of violent attacks.
The government has in turn accused the MDC of staging political attacks while saying the extent of the violence has been exaggerated.
But a South African election observer has said that the violence makes it impossible to hold a run-off.
'Uniforms issued'
The BBC's Orla Guerin met the police officer deep in Zimbabwe's bush as he was afraid of being identified.
"The war veterans will be wearing police uniforms" he said.
"They will be given ranks and force numbers. They'll be part and parcel of the police deployed in every ward. So when people come in to vote they will see war veterans from their area in among the police and they will be intimidated."



He said that preparations were at an advance stage - that the order to issue uniforms had already been given by provincial police headquarters.
Though opposed to the plan he said he was powerless to stop it because if he objected he would be risking his life.
"Anything can happen" he said.
"You can be abducted or just disappear or your family can be endangered. You never know who is watching you. You can't trust anyone in Zimbabwe."
He also said the police had been told to go out and campaign vigorously for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and to remind people that they won the country's freedom with the barrel of a gun.
"They are trying to threaten people into voting for them so they do not get off the throne" he said.
The security forces have been accused of backing President Mugabe



"Zanu-PF are determined to continue ruling the country and continue destroying it."
According to this officer there are many in the junior ranks of the police who talk privately about the need for change but dare not speak out.
He said no-one could be certain of attitudes among the senior commanders because they had benefited greatly under the ruling party.
Many of those who fought in the 1970s war of independence went on to become police officers and soldiers and remain deeply loyal to their war-time leader Mr Mugabe.
But many of the so-called "war veterans" are too young to have fought in the war.
Anti-government speeches
The union officials arrested are Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions which is close to the MDC.
A ZCTU spokesman said the arrests were in connection with anti-government speeches during rallies on May Day.
The MDC has still not said whether it will take part in the run-off.
The opposition says its supporters are being systematically targeted



It says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the first round outright and should be declared president.
Mr Tsvangirai is in South Africa and has not been home for a month amid fears for his safety. According to the official results Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe but not the 50% needed for outright victory. The run-off is supposed to be held within 21 days of the publication of the results - last Friday - but the electoral commission head has reportedly said it could be delayed for up to a year.