ZANU-PF distributes fake MDC fliers urging supporters to vote

By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 25, 2008

MDC supporters in Manicaland have been warned to beware of fake fliers and posters that are being distributed by ZANU-PF, urging them to go and vote in the Presidential runoff on Friday. The MDC spokesperson for Manicaland, Pishai Muchauraya, said this is being done to confuse MDC supporters into thinking that their party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is still participating in the runoff.

He warned all MDC supporters not to go and vote on Friday because Tsvangirai has definitely pulled out of the race, due to the extreme violence that has been unleashed. Muchauraya advised those in the rural areas to spoil their ballot if they are forced to go to the polling stations.

Meanwhile, the MDC offices in Manicaland were raided Wednesday morning by agents from the Law and Order Division, uniformed police, plus youth militia in ZANU-PF t-shirts. Muchauraya said the team came armed with AK-47’s, teargas and dogs.

They cordoned off the building while the riot squads known as the ‘black boots’ entered the offices and began searching through files. They demanded to know who lived in the office and Pishai explained that there were people there who had been forced to flee from their home areas due to political violence.

The MDC’s lawyers arrived and took over negotiations with the police, who at this time were demanding a list of all the people there. The lawyers refused, saying this was private property and the police needed a reason to demand such a list. The police left and said they were coming back at 2:00 PM for the list, which the lawyers said would be ready.

At 2:00 PM a group of intelligence agents arrived but by then the MDC officials had alerted SADC observers in the area and they were waiting at the MDC office. The state agents left without asking for the list. Muchauraya said he told the observers that he was concerned that the office might be attacked at night, when observers are not present.