afrol News, 31 March - The Youth League of South Africa's governing African National Congress has urged the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Zimbabwe to prevent it from "sinking" into violence should President Mugabe lose the polls and wants to "force his way back to power."

The league - whose three election monitors returned home due to surveillance by Central Intelligence Officers - fears the repeat of a Kenya-style of violence.

"And there is the fear about the army and police staging a coup if the opposition takes the Presidency," it said, calling for the deployment of SADC and UN forces to prevent Zimbabwe from "sinking" into violence.

"This should serve as a post election process undertaken by all the parties involved in the elections and all the countries in the region."

The league said its officials' experience "shows the level of intimidation that is still prevalent in Zimbabwe." One returned official based in the second capital Bulawayo was interrogated by the secret police agents.

The league was however satisfied that its members were allowed by Zimbabwean authorities to enter and leave the country without any major interference.

The monitors said there was no evidence of a free and fair elections before the polls, citing the state-controlled media's massive campaign for President Robert Mugabe at the detriment of the opposition.

Beside, there was no voter education and voter rolls were not given to the opposition.

Among the league's complaint of irregularities was that some people voted in areas they did not reside.

The league said Zimbabweans are reeling with fears of rigging the presidential vote in favour of Mr Mugabe who is believed to be trailing behind the Movement for Democratic in all the four categories.

"The remaining result for the Presidential contest is reported to be in favour of Morgan Tsvangirai," it said, attributing the delay of releasing the results to planned vote rigging.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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