Zimbabwe's election cited as test of freedom

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

BEIT BRIDGE BORDER POST, South Africa -- Trade unionists in South Africa and Zimbabwean exiles rallied at this border crossing last night to denounce the government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and support the opposition on the eve of parliamentary elections today.

Residents of Zimbabwe "are living in grinding poverty, with more than 80 percent unemployment," said South African union leader Zwelinzima Vavi, who described today's vote as a test of whether freedom had come to Zimbabwe.

"And this is all because of government policies. The economy had broken down completely and we must stand together with Zimbabwean workers who are bearing the brunt of this," he shouted into a loudspeaker system that carried his voice across the border.

Hundreds of protesters, most bused in by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) , marched toward a bridge across the Limpopo River but did not defy a court order blocking their original plan to shut down the bridge.

The march was to show solidarity with unions in Zimbabwe that form the main support base of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition to Mr. Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

COSATU President Willie Madisha blasted Zimbabwe's long-serving Mr. Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, who has been accused of turning the once-model country into a mess.

"He is no longer a freedom fighter -- he is an animal killing the people," Mr. Madisha said. "We are dealing with a hero of yesterday and an enemy of the people of today."

The opposition has been able to assemble large crowds for its rallies in spite of intimidation and threats from Mr. Mugabe, who has labeled anyone who votes for the MDC as a traitor.

MDC campaigner Nkathazo Ncube, who crossed Beit Bridge last night for the vigil, spoke of "a mood of defiance" in nearby Matabeleland, a key province in which he had spent the past two weeks.

"In 2002 and for the past three years, we have been so afraid," he said. "Thousands have been tortured and beaten by the state militia for supporting the opposition or even for not attending ZANU-PF rallies.