afrol News, 27 May - With Zimbabwe governance in shambles and post election violence spreading beyond control in the Zimbabwe, more Zimbabweans live in fear as the country heads for 27 June run-off polls.

Zimbabwe has been rocked by serious human rights violations since the disputed presidential polls on 29 March, which has left over 40 people dead while more than 1000 are displaced. The ruling ZANU-PF officials and supporters were allegedly pursuing violent attacks and killings against opposition MDC supporters despite the political agreement to hold run-off presidential elections.

As the run off date approaches, observers fear the violence and intimidation which has been dragging since March polls.

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who fled his country after winning most votes in the presidential contest due to fears of assassination, landed in Harare on Saturday to face his arch rival, ZANU PF leader, Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai who was out of the country for more than six weeks, survived at least three assassination attempts including last year when he was severely assaulted by police at a prayer rally held in Harare. ZANU-PF has denied allegations of plot assassinations.

Though Mr Tsvangarai has expressed his fears, he is adamant that his supporters are ready for the June polls. CNN quoted Mr Tsvangarai saying "They can kill us, they can maim us, but on 27 June we are going to vote this man out. We will not betray the life of Tonderai."

He was speaking at the funeral of 33-year-old activist Tonderai Ndira, one of at least 40 activists of the opposition who have been murdered in the past two months.

Independent human rights groups lashed on the ruling party saying opposition supporters have been targeted in a campaign of violence aimed at ensuring the 84-year-old President Mugabe remains in power.

While xenophobic attacks has been perpetrated mostly on Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa, hope to go back to their country is bleak with the current human rights violations perpetrated on MDC supporters in the last two months.

On the other hand, ZANU PF has mounted a massive campaign ahead of the June polls to ensure victory. Zimbabwean leader Mugabe, who led the country since independence in 1980, was beaten into second place in the first round of presidential polls in March has launched his run off campaign.

Zimbabwe state media has reported President Mugabe is urging his supporters during the launch to condemn acts of violence and fight for independence in the country.

ZANU-PF mouthpiece, 'The Herald', quoted President Mugabe saying: "Zimbabwe cannot be British, it cannot be American. Yes, it is African, but first and foremost it is Zimbabwean and for Zimbabweans.”

He appealed to his supporters to put differences aside which were resultant of primary election ahead on 29 March polls when electing candidates to dedicate their efforts to victory in the run off elections due next month.

President Mugabe assured the nation that despite the hardships that were being faced, the ruling party would continue to strive to ensure that food was available and other challenges such as housing, transport and water and electricity shortages continued to be addressed.

President Mugabe who repossessed land for redistribution to the landless black majority from the minority white farmers since 2000, was one of the major contributors to Zimbabwe's downfall. More than 3.5 million people have fled to South Africa and other countries to escape impoverishment in an economy where inflation is over 165,000 percent.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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