Mick Hartley

If the opposition MDC do decide to take part in the proposed two-way run-off with Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, this is what they’ll face:

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….

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.

“Zanu-PF are determined to continue ruling the country, and continue destroying it.”