On the eve of the presidential election, Zimbabwe is a deeply divided nation. In Bendura in central Zimbabwe...the funeral of a 24-year old political activist. Trymore Midizi was a youth leader of the Movement for Democratic Change... the MDC. He was murdered while campaigning for the party. Nobody has been arrested for his murder... but his family believes that it was Zanu-PF supporters. His father was once a powerful and senior official in the ruling Zanu-PF.
00:04:12:14
00:04:12:17 UPS Trymore’s father:
I was always Zanu. I was the chairman of Zanu, working for (minister) Goche. I was sacked by Goche because of my son, Trymore. The CIO started harassing me and I saw I was wasting my time. so I came home here to my house, bought with the money I had earned as a policeman for government. I thought Zanu was a good government, but today I tell you all – my heart is angry. If I supported Zanu before – never again! if they want me to die also – so be it. I am a son of Zimbabwe. I am from Chiwese, like Msika – I’m his relative. Today I hurt because of the murder of my son who grew up and joined the party of his choice. Zanu saw that he was clever – he had realised he was being oppressed by the government…a government of murderers who have killed so many people. so I say – Robert, beware. Zanu is the cause of the spilling of blood.
00:05:46:12
PROGRAMME SUB-TITLE: LAND OF OUR BIRTH – a special report
00:06:02:16 – ups crowd cheering and boy:
People hell has broken loose. People of my country land of my birth, hell has broken loose. Why are we turning our lovely paradise into a desolation, why are we turning our lovely cities into abomination. (clapping and cheering). I plead with you land of my people, I will speak-yekelani ngi khulume mina (let me speak).
00:06:54:17
00:06:55:12 – ups woman in Mugabe shirt :
Political analysts and observers describe the Zimbabwean presidential election as a battle between old and new... between traditionalism and modernism. Zanu-PF and President Robert Mugabe fight the election on a ticket of anti-colonialism, the return of land to the people and more jobs and houses. The MDC and its leader, Morgan Tsvangarai, want to see the economy restructured… fair land-redistribution and national reconciliation.
Nobody embodies the spirit and character of Zanu-PF more than this man: Didymus Mutasa… secretary for external affairs, a senior politburo member, Member of Parliament AND a Mugabe confidante. This Makoni North... Zanu-PF heartland.
00:08:02:13 UPS MUTASA:
When the Europeans came here into Rhodesia...They gave us the bible and they took away our land. We want to go away from that situation. We simply want to get our land back and if it is necessary give them their bible back.
00:08:25:20
For Didymus Mutasa, history is all-important in this election. Blood was spilt to bring about freedom. He took us to a former Rhodesian army base… where guerrillas were allegedly tortured and buried in mass graves.
VISUALS & UPS MUTASA:
They brought them here, and killed them at this structure. You can see that trench which is their ?? down there. They were really instruments for murder. I cant even call it killing…I do not think that the majority of our people want to live under an MDC government. Because as other people have said before…ah being ruled by the MDC is being ruled by a Ian Smith, and nobody in this country wants to go back to Rhodesia.
00:09:25:22
00:09:25:24 UPS TSVANGIRAI :
The election issue is about the freedom of the country. What are the issues the Zimbabweans feel are the most important. Tangible issues that they need addressed.
00:09:37:01
00:09:37:02 UPS MUTASA:
Anyone who knows the history of this country, would not behave the way the MDC is behaving at the present moment. Because they are surely and truly being used by the former Smith regime.
00:09:54:20
00:09:55:05 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
Any politician that talks about the past does not understand that the real basis of wining an election is talking about the program for the future. Apparently Mugabe is too engross in his past.
00:10:09:01
For 15 years Zimbabweans fought a bloody guerrilla war… before forcing the regime of Ian Smith to the negotiating table and into a free and fair election. Guerrilla leader Robert Mugabe emerged victorious.
00:10:22:19 UPS TV – ADDRESS TO THE NATION: By robert mugane
Long lives our freedom. The final countdown before the launching of the new state of Zimbabwe has now begun. Only a few hours from now Zimbabwe will have come a free, independent and ensourvering state. Free to choose it’s own flight path and chart it’s own course to it’s chosen destiny. It’s people have made a democracil choice of those who as their legitimate government they wish to see governed and take policy decisions as to their future. This indeed is the meaning mandate that my party secured though a free and fair election conducted in the full glare of the world spotlight.
00:11:19:06
In the west Mugabe was widely viewed as a Marxist. But he soon showed himself to be a pragmatist. He pleaded for national unity and embarked on a campaign to educate his people and provide health care for all. Zimbabwe became a model for the rest of Africa.
00:11:37:06 UPS TV MUGABE:
Democracy is never more rule, it is and it should remain disciplined rule. Requiring complice with the law and social rules. Our independence must thus not be construed as an instrument vesting individuals or group individuals with the right to harass and intimidate others.
00:11:57:16
No one knows Mugabe better than this man: Edgar Tekere, former guerrilla leader, founding member of Zanu-PF and minister in Mugabe's first cabinet. He became known as a party maverick.
00:12:14:02 UPS TEKERE:
It’s correct to be fearful, what Mugabe might do. Mugabe is a very determined man that’s one thing about him. I describe him as a perseverer. Inflexible, once he has made up his mind to go this way he goes that way.
00:12:43:16
But Tekere was also one of the first to break ranks and stand up to Mugabe. In 1989 he resigned from the party… claiming corruption. In 1990 he became the first man to take on Mugabe in a presidential election… an election he says was rigged.
00:13:01:22 UPS TEKERE:
The rigging of elections and playing fool with ballots and ballot boxes and so forth like they did in 1990 it is not going to be exactly that easy this time around.
00:13:18:07
============================================================
00:13:25:16 – PART TWO
The most serious challenge to Mugabe’s power came three years ago with the formation of the MDC. Its leader was Morgan Tsvangarai, a trade unionist virtually unknown to the outside word.
In early 2000 Mugabe lost a referendum on a draft constitution. This would have permitted him two additional terms in office, granted government officials immunity from prosecution and sanctioned government seizure of white-owned land. In parliamentary elections a few months later, the MDC, against all odds, captured 57 of the 120 seats in Parliament.
00:14:02:20 UPS SPEECH:
The MDC perpetrators of political violence and crimes against humanity and their international sponsors should also know their days are numbered.
00:14:16:20
Three weeks after the draft constitution was rejected, so-called "war veterans" started invading white-owned farms. Mugabe's opponents saw this as nothing less than a ploy to win votes. Zanu-PF said it was simply reclaiming land that that was illegally occupied by whites. Land remains one of Zanu-PF's main election issues
00:14:40:09 UPS MUTASA:
I talked to many white farmers here about the land redistribution exercise. You see but sure it is right for you to even volunteer, to offer to have this land redistributed because you are not living in 1890.
00:15:03:19
00:15:04:01 UPS MOYO:
I think as a matter of justice everybody has to accept Zimbabwe shall never…never be a colony again and land belongs to the people of Zimbabwe and we will acquire it.
00:15:14:24
00:15:15:01 UPS MUTASA:
It is not racism...because if it is seen as racism here it is worse in Europe.
00:15:23:13
00:15:23:14 UPS MOYO:
We consider it to be our third Chimorenga. Which is the third revolution to complete the thread of the revolutions that we have gone through because it is economic empowerment.
00:15:40:04
00:15:40:08 UPS MUTASA:
Many many of us did not go to fight the second Chimorenga, in order to install a British puppet like Tsvangarai. But under those circumstances if there were to be a coo we would support it.
00:16:01:15
Independent polls put Morgan Tsvangarai ahead in the presidential race. But many see him as politically inexperienced - even naive...especially after he was apparently conned into an alleged plot to assassinate Mugabe. He is driving his campaign on a new vision.
00:16:20:07 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
Our vision is to return this country to a new direction. Not the suicidal path that Mugabe has sent us on. What are the elements of that plan. First and foremost is to restore law and order to the country. That is the only way we can establish confidence among the Zimbabweans.
00:16:37:21
00:16:37:22 UPS MUTASA:
The MDC is really decampaigned themselves and on one occasion I was joking with our campaigners that we must find funding for Tsvangarai because he is doing a very good job for Zanu PF.
00:16:52:19
00:16:52:20 UPS TSVANGIRAI
Secondly we have got a transitional plan, which looks at a number of arrears. That would need intermediate response for starvation, for food shortages, for violence and immediate reorganisation of the land-reformed program.
00:17:13:21
00:17:14:01 UPS MUTASA:
I have given a new name to the MDC, I don’t want to really call them the Movement for Democratic Change. I call them Mentally Deficient Children. They haven’t got any minds at all.
00:17:31:13
00:17:31:14 UPS SPEECH TSVANGIRAI:
The reason why we are participating in this election is not because we are endorsing a flout process. We are participating in this election because we don’t want to abandon the will of the people. And that’s why?
00:17:45:13
00:17:45:21 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
We are the only ones what we are going to do on people who are going to starve. On the first day we are elect, we have an effective plan on job creation, we got an effective program on intervening in those marginalised arrears 18 percent Who are actually affected by poverty.
00:18:04:16
00:18:05:05 UPS MUTASA:
We are confident…I think it is only a miracle that would happen for any other party to win.
00:18:17:23
Robert Mugabe sells himself (?) as the man who liberated his country from the chains of racist rule…the leader who brought his people education, health, relative prosperity - and now, land. In his election manifesto he promises to build a million houses…to stop rising inflation and food prices. However, most his electioneering, has focused on anti-colonialism and his opponent's alleged links with Britain.
00:18:43:18 UPS MUGABE SPEECH:
We must defend the people, we must defend ourselves and we must defend the party. Imondi from Tsvangarai down to the Tsotsis (???) later deployed. They are all a bunch of murderer characters.
00:19:03:09
00:19:03:17 UPS MUTASA:
He is showing the murderer that he is, he is showing the terrorist that he is, he is showing the lack of intelligence that he is.
00:19:17:24
The election campaign has been marred by violence. Both sides accuse one another of intimidation… and blame unruly supporters. This Zapu-PF member says he was attacked by MDC supporters at a Mugabe rally. These people claim that they were beaten up by Mugabe supporters at an MDC gathering.
00:19:45:07 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I was attacked when I went on the campaign trail. In Bindura I was attacked. When I went on a campaign trail in Sanyet all these lead to one thing that these guys are desperate.
00:19:59:01
00:19:59:09 UPS MUTASA:
When Adam was asked about the original sin, he said to God if you had not sent Eve to be with me I would have not sinned. So probably the same might be said if there was no MDC. There would be no violence in Zimbabwe.
00:20:17:12
00:20:18:03 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I found that opinion because there is a whole series of very serious attempts at my life, I was almost thrown on 10th floor building after being attacked by unknown assailants. I know now that it was a group sent by Mugabe.
00:20:36:14
00:20:36:17 UPS MUTASA: Our party...has in fact being on the receiving end of violence. And unfortunately our presses have not being able to report on that. Bits and pieces which they reported was of Zanu PF campaigners being beaten up and having stones throw on their heads-wounds actually all over their bodies. I have not seen a similar picture of MDC campaigners in this area because in fact they are not here in Magoni arrear.
00:21:25:11
Both parties claim that there are several no-go areas in the country where they can’t campaign. One such area is Didymus Mutasa's ZAPU-PF constituency in Markoni-North.
00:21:39:10 UPS MUTASA:
The MDC people come at night –they distribute their literature they simply live it dumped on the roads, on the road on the street and our people see it and we burn it because it is really dirt.
00:21:57:12
00:21:57:12 UPS TSV:
We believe we have met significant route in the rural arrears. You must show the east, west, south and north. I think Mugabe will have a route short.
00:22:06:08
00:22:06:15 UPS MUTASA
There is really no one even if we wanted to be violent. There is no one to meet that violence on because there is hardly any MDC person who is here who residents here to be violent to.
There's growing evidence that the Police and Central Intelligence Organisation are taking sides in the battle for votes. When night falls, this more sinister form of political violence seems to take place...
Few are prepared to speak about it openly...
Tunderai Ndira is a founding member of the MDC. He shares his house with friends. All targets of alleged police action - because of Ndira's presence in the house.
00:22:47:12 UPS NDIRA:
Their lives are not safe there was this other time which they need to arrest me. They couldn’t find me, they take everybody here. All the guys here are MDC members so they took them and detained them at the central police station during my absence and they were charged with public violence.
00:23:10:15
ON a recent raid the police smashed the family's wardrobe, and broke their radio. They said they were searching for illegal weapons that Ndira says he never had.
00:23:18:12 UPS Ndira:
The last kicks of a dying horse are very dangerous, that's why you see they are always killing people, intimidating, breaching the rule...everything...they know they are going to lose this election.
00:23:31:24
Since the MDC's birth 3 years ago Ndira claims to have recruited several thousand members. That's why he believes he's been beaten unconscious by the police, arrested 8 times and has had to fork out thousands of Zimbabwe dollars for bail...but no charge against him has ever been proven in court.
The ongoing arrests are not the most troubling part of a campaign… that he says is aimed at making him quit the MDC. It’s the psychological warfare at home... that started to spill over into his friends and family's lives.
00:24:07:19 UPS Ndira:
We were sitting again at our residence, at home, with my wife...I saw the policeman come...They were saying: YOU SUPPORT WHITES, YOU WANT TO SELL ZIMBABWE, SO IF WE BEAT YOU, I THINK YOUR BRAIN WILL WORK, SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ZANU PF, NOT MDC.
00:24:32:00
For their single room and a small adjacent kitchen, Ndira pays more than R500 per month. He blames ZANU PF for the impossibly high cost of living in Zimbabwe. And for his unemployment. Friends help them survive. These days Ndira's family doesn't get to sleep at their home much...even tonight his wife has to pack...they're always on the run from the police...
00:24:57:10 UPS Ndira:
Police and members of the CIO, they are the one who are always intimidating me, each and every time...even yesterday they come to my home, they just park their armoured car, they didn't talk to anyone...I was hiding somewhere. If I was around at home, they were going to beat me again.
00:25:21:08
Ndira has campaign work to take care of this coming week...he knows he can fend for himself. But he fears for family.
00:25:29:04 UPS Ndira:
My wife is not safe...if she sleep here today, tomorrow she sleep to another relative, the following day she sleep to her friends...she's not safe until the election has been done.
00:25:44:04
His family will hide out until election day. But Ndira has to continue the fight against alleged intimidation on behalf of his party members. The very next day, in fact, he has to travel to the MDC's Provincial Office… to fetch an assault victim who's just come out of hospital…and take him home.
Two days ago old man Tungamirai was home alone when alleged ZANU PF supporters showed up, looking for his son.
00:26:11:21 UPS Ndira:
They say to his father...WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR CHILDREN, DEAD OR ALIVE, they say WE WANT YOU TO TEACH YOUR SON, SO WE START BY BEATING YOU. They started to attack him using slashers, knives, and stones.
00:26:29:17
Every day a group gathers outside the MDC's offices… victims of assault and other supporters. They catch up on election news and pass on information.
00:26:43:06 UPS Ndira:
Myself, my life is in danger...They want me to lose hope for MDC
00:26:49:09
For today Ndira is trying to assure Old Man Tungamirai that he and his son will be safe on their way home. But on election day he knows many who've been intimidated, will have to venture out… and stare down those they say they fear...
An estimated five million Zimbabweans are eligible to vote on Saturday and Sunday. Whatever the result, it will change the face of Zimbabwe forever. We asked Dydimus Mutase what would happen if Morgan Tsvangarai wins.
00:27:21:20 UPS MUTASA:
I think there will be mayhem…mayhem throughout the whole of this region.
00:27:27:15
00:27:27:17 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I’m not given to the fact that we are inheriting a rose picture. I know we are inheriting a mess. But I can tell you that MDC has a vision and a plan.
00:27:40:22
00:27:41:01 UPS MUTASA:
Nobody will vote for a leader of that calibre and when you size him with Mugabe who has led this country for last 22 years. Then you find it a joke and that’s why I was saying maybe you should have asked whether we are over confident of winning.
00:28:02:23
00:28:03:17 The end.
Music Details:
1. 'rapid eye' composed by james copperthwaite, published by KPM, on KPM456, cut 7
2. '"what can we do?" composed by g. narhotz, published by SONOTON, on
SCD276, cut 27
00:04:12:14
00:04:12:17 UPS Trymore’s father:
I was always Zanu. I was the chairman of Zanu, working for (minister) Goche. I was sacked by Goche because of my son, Trymore. The CIO started harassing me and I saw I was wasting my time. so I came home here to my house, bought with the money I had earned as a policeman for government. I thought Zanu was a good government, but today I tell you all – my heart is angry. If I supported Zanu before – never again! if they want me to die also – so be it. I am a son of Zimbabwe. I am from Chiwese, like Msika – I’m his relative. Today I hurt because of the murder of my son who grew up and joined the party of his choice. Zanu saw that he was clever – he had realised he was being oppressed by the government…a government of murderers who have killed so many people. so I say – Robert, beware. Zanu is the cause of the spilling of blood.
00:05:46:12
PROGRAMME SUB-TITLE: LAND OF OUR BIRTH – a special report
00:06:02:16 – ups crowd cheering and boy:
People hell has broken loose. People of my country land of my birth, hell has broken loose. Why are we turning our lovely paradise into a desolation, why are we turning our lovely cities into abomination. (clapping and cheering). I plead with you land of my people, I will speak-yekelani ngi khulume mina (let me speak).
00:06:54:17
00:06:55:12 – ups woman in Mugabe shirt :
Political analysts and observers describe the Zimbabwean presidential election as a battle between old and new... between traditionalism and modernism. Zanu-PF and President Robert Mugabe fight the election on a ticket of anti-colonialism, the return of land to the people and more jobs and houses. The MDC and its leader, Morgan Tsvangarai, want to see the economy restructured… fair land-redistribution and national reconciliation.
Nobody embodies the spirit and character of Zanu-PF more than this man: Didymus Mutasa… secretary for external affairs, a senior politburo member, Member of Parliament AND a Mugabe confidante. This Makoni North... Zanu-PF heartland.
00:08:02:13 UPS MUTASA:
When the Europeans came here into Rhodesia...They gave us the bible and they took away our land. We want to go away from that situation. We simply want to get our land back and if it is necessary give them their bible back.
00:08:25:20
For Didymus Mutasa, history is all-important in this election. Blood was spilt to bring about freedom. He took us to a former Rhodesian army base… where guerrillas were allegedly tortured and buried in mass graves.
VISUALS & UPS MUTASA:
They brought them here, and killed them at this structure. You can see that trench which is their ?? down there. They were really instruments for murder. I cant even call it killing…I do not think that the majority of our people want to live under an MDC government. Because as other people have said before…ah being ruled by the MDC is being ruled by a Ian Smith, and nobody in this country wants to go back to Rhodesia.
00:09:25:22
00:09:25:24 UPS TSVANGIRAI :
The election issue is about the freedom of the country. What are the issues the Zimbabweans feel are the most important. Tangible issues that they need addressed.
00:09:37:01
00:09:37:02 UPS MUTASA:
Anyone who knows the history of this country, would not behave the way the MDC is behaving at the present moment. Because they are surely and truly being used by the former Smith regime.
00:09:54:20
00:09:55:05 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
Any politician that talks about the past does not understand that the real basis of wining an election is talking about the program for the future. Apparently Mugabe is too engross in his past.
00:10:09:01
For 15 years Zimbabweans fought a bloody guerrilla war… before forcing the regime of Ian Smith to the negotiating table and into a free and fair election. Guerrilla leader Robert Mugabe emerged victorious.
00:10:22:19 UPS TV – ADDRESS TO THE NATION: By robert mugane
Long lives our freedom. The final countdown before the launching of the new state of Zimbabwe has now begun. Only a few hours from now Zimbabwe will have come a free, independent and ensourvering state. Free to choose it’s own flight path and chart it’s own course to it’s chosen destiny. It’s people have made a democracil choice of those who as their legitimate government they wish to see governed and take policy decisions as to their future. This indeed is the meaning mandate that my party secured though a free and fair election conducted in the full glare of the world spotlight.
00:11:19:06
In the west Mugabe was widely viewed as a Marxist. But he soon showed himself to be a pragmatist. He pleaded for national unity and embarked on a campaign to educate his people and provide health care for all. Zimbabwe became a model for the rest of Africa.
00:11:37:06 UPS TV MUGABE:
Democracy is never more rule, it is and it should remain disciplined rule. Requiring complice with the law and social rules. Our independence must thus not be construed as an instrument vesting individuals or group individuals with the right to harass and intimidate others.
00:11:57:16
No one knows Mugabe better than this man: Edgar Tekere, former guerrilla leader, founding member of Zanu-PF and minister in Mugabe's first cabinet. He became known as a party maverick.
00:12:14:02 UPS TEKERE:
It’s correct to be fearful, what Mugabe might do. Mugabe is a very determined man that’s one thing about him. I describe him as a perseverer. Inflexible, once he has made up his mind to go this way he goes that way.
00:12:43:16
But Tekere was also one of the first to break ranks and stand up to Mugabe. In 1989 he resigned from the party… claiming corruption. In 1990 he became the first man to take on Mugabe in a presidential election… an election he says was rigged.
00:13:01:22 UPS TEKERE:
The rigging of elections and playing fool with ballots and ballot boxes and so forth like they did in 1990 it is not going to be exactly that easy this time around.
00:13:18:07
============================================================
00:13:25:16 – PART TWO
The most serious challenge to Mugabe’s power came three years ago with the formation of the MDC. Its leader was Morgan Tsvangarai, a trade unionist virtually unknown to the outside word.
In early 2000 Mugabe lost a referendum on a draft constitution. This would have permitted him two additional terms in office, granted government officials immunity from prosecution and sanctioned government seizure of white-owned land. In parliamentary elections a few months later, the MDC, against all odds, captured 57 of the 120 seats in Parliament.
00:14:02:20 UPS SPEECH:
The MDC perpetrators of political violence and crimes against humanity and their international sponsors should also know their days are numbered.
00:14:16:20
Three weeks after the draft constitution was rejected, so-called "war veterans" started invading white-owned farms. Mugabe's opponents saw this as nothing less than a ploy to win votes. Zanu-PF said it was simply reclaiming land that that was illegally occupied by whites. Land remains one of Zanu-PF's main election issues
00:14:40:09 UPS MUTASA:
I talked to many white farmers here about the land redistribution exercise. You see but sure it is right for you to even volunteer, to offer to have this land redistributed because you are not living in 1890.
00:15:03:19
00:15:04:01 UPS MOYO:
I think as a matter of justice everybody has to accept Zimbabwe shall never…never be a colony again and land belongs to the people of Zimbabwe and we will acquire it.
00:15:14:24
00:15:15:01 UPS MUTASA:
It is not racism...because if it is seen as racism here it is worse in Europe.
00:15:23:13
00:15:23:14 UPS MOYO:
We consider it to be our third Chimorenga. Which is the third revolution to complete the thread of the revolutions that we have gone through because it is economic empowerment.
00:15:40:04
00:15:40:08 UPS MUTASA:
Many many of us did not go to fight the second Chimorenga, in order to install a British puppet like Tsvangarai. But under those circumstances if there were to be a coo we would support it.
00:16:01:15
Independent polls put Morgan Tsvangarai ahead in the presidential race. But many see him as politically inexperienced - even naive...especially after he was apparently conned into an alleged plot to assassinate Mugabe. He is driving his campaign on a new vision.
00:16:20:07 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
Our vision is to return this country to a new direction. Not the suicidal path that Mugabe has sent us on. What are the elements of that plan. First and foremost is to restore law and order to the country. That is the only way we can establish confidence among the Zimbabweans.
00:16:37:21
00:16:37:22 UPS MUTASA:
The MDC is really decampaigned themselves and on one occasion I was joking with our campaigners that we must find funding for Tsvangarai because he is doing a very good job for Zanu PF.
00:16:52:19
00:16:52:20 UPS TSVANGIRAI
Secondly we have got a transitional plan, which looks at a number of arrears. That would need intermediate response for starvation, for food shortages, for violence and immediate reorganisation of the land-reformed program.
00:17:13:21
00:17:14:01 UPS MUTASA:
I have given a new name to the MDC, I don’t want to really call them the Movement for Democratic Change. I call them Mentally Deficient Children. They haven’t got any minds at all.
00:17:31:13
00:17:31:14 UPS SPEECH TSVANGIRAI:
The reason why we are participating in this election is not because we are endorsing a flout process. We are participating in this election because we don’t want to abandon the will of the people. And that’s why?
00:17:45:13
00:17:45:21 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
We are the only ones what we are going to do on people who are going to starve. On the first day we are elect, we have an effective plan on job creation, we got an effective program on intervening in those marginalised arrears 18 percent Who are actually affected by poverty.
00:18:04:16
00:18:05:05 UPS MUTASA:
We are confident…I think it is only a miracle that would happen for any other party to win.
00:18:17:23
Robert Mugabe sells himself (?) as the man who liberated his country from the chains of racist rule…the leader who brought his people education, health, relative prosperity - and now, land. In his election manifesto he promises to build a million houses…to stop rising inflation and food prices. However, most his electioneering, has focused on anti-colonialism and his opponent's alleged links with Britain.
00:18:43:18 UPS MUGABE SPEECH:
We must defend the people, we must defend ourselves and we must defend the party. Imondi from Tsvangarai down to the Tsotsis (???) later deployed. They are all a bunch of murderer characters.
00:19:03:09
00:19:03:17 UPS MUTASA:
He is showing the murderer that he is, he is showing the terrorist that he is, he is showing the lack of intelligence that he is.
00:19:17:24
The election campaign has been marred by violence. Both sides accuse one another of intimidation… and blame unruly supporters. This Zapu-PF member says he was attacked by MDC supporters at a Mugabe rally. These people claim that they were beaten up by Mugabe supporters at an MDC gathering.
00:19:45:07 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I was attacked when I went on the campaign trail. In Bindura I was attacked. When I went on a campaign trail in Sanyet all these lead to one thing that these guys are desperate.
00:19:59:01
00:19:59:09 UPS MUTASA:
When Adam was asked about the original sin, he said to God if you had not sent Eve to be with me I would have not sinned. So probably the same might be said if there was no MDC. There would be no violence in Zimbabwe.
00:20:17:12
00:20:18:03 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I found that opinion because there is a whole series of very serious attempts at my life, I was almost thrown on 10th floor building after being attacked by unknown assailants. I know now that it was a group sent by Mugabe.
00:20:36:14
00:20:36:17 UPS MUTASA: Our party...has in fact being on the receiving end of violence. And unfortunately our presses have not being able to report on that. Bits and pieces which they reported was of Zanu PF campaigners being beaten up and having stones throw on their heads-wounds actually all over their bodies. I have not seen a similar picture of MDC campaigners in this area because in fact they are not here in Magoni arrear.
00:21:25:11
Both parties claim that there are several no-go areas in the country where they can’t campaign. One such area is Didymus Mutasa's ZAPU-PF constituency in Markoni-North.
00:21:39:10 UPS MUTASA:
The MDC people come at night –they distribute their literature they simply live it dumped on the roads, on the road on the street and our people see it and we burn it because it is really dirt.
00:21:57:12
00:21:57:12 UPS TSV:
We believe we have met significant route in the rural arrears. You must show the east, west, south and north. I think Mugabe will have a route short.
00:22:06:08
00:22:06:15 UPS MUTASA
There is really no one even if we wanted to be violent. There is no one to meet that violence on because there is hardly any MDC person who is here who residents here to be violent to.
There's growing evidence that the Police and Central Intelligence Organisation are taking sides in the battle for votes. When night falls, this more sinister form of political violence seems to take place...
Few are prepared to speak about it openly...
Tunderai Ndira is a founding member of the MDC. He shares his house with friends. All targets of alleged police action - because of Ndira's presence in the house.
00:22:47:12 UPS NDIRA:
Their lives are not safe there was this other time which they need to arrest me. They couldn’t find me, they take everybody here. All the guys here are MDC members so they took them and detained them at the central police station during my absence and they were charged with public violence.
00:23:10:15
ON a recent raid the police smashed the family's wardrobe, and broke their radio. They said they were searching for illegal weapons that Ndira says he never had.
00:23:18:12 UPS Ndira:
The last kicks of a dying horse are very dangerous, that's why you see they are always killing people, intimidating, breaching the rule...everything...they know they are going to lose this election.
00:23:31:24
Since the MDC's birth 3 years ago Ndira claims to have recruited several thousand members. That's why he believes he's been beaten unconscious by the police, arrested 8 times and has had to fork out thousands of Zimbabwe dollars for bail...but no charge against him has ever been proven in court.
The ongoing arrests are not the most troubling part of a campaign… that he says is aimed at making him quit the MDC. It’s the psychological warfare at home... that started to spill over into his friends and family's lives.
00:24:07:19 UPS Ndira:
We were sitting again at our residence, at home, with my wife...I saw the policeman come...They were saying: YOU SUPPORT WHITES, YOU WANT TO SELL ZIMBABWE, SO IF WE BEAT YOU, I THINK YOUR BRAIN WILL WORK, SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ZANU PF, NOT MDC.
00:24:32:00
For their single room and a small adjacent kitchen, Ndira pays more than R500 per month. He blames ZANU PF for the impossibly high cost of living in Zimbabwe. And for his unemployment. Friends help them survive. These days Ndira's family doesn't get to sleep at their home much...even tonight his wife has to pack...they're always on the run from the police...
00:24:57:10 UPS Ndira:
Police and members of the CIO, they are the one who are always intimidating me, each and every time...even yesterday they come to my home, they just park their armoured car, they didn't talk to anyone...I was hiding somewhere. If I was around at home, they were going to beat me again.
00:25:21:08
Ndira has campaign work to take care of this coming week...he knows he can fend for himself. But he fears for family.
00:25:29:04 UPS Ndira:
My wife is not safe...if she sleep here today, tomorrow she sleep to another relative, the following day she sleep to her friends...she's not safe until the election has been done.
00:25:44:04
His family will hide out until election day. But Ndira has to continue the fight against alleged intimidation on behalf of his party members. The very next day, in fact, he has to travel to the MDC's Provincial Office… to fetch an assault victim who's just come out of hospital…and take him home.
Two days ago old man Tungamirai was home alone when alleged ZANU PF supporters showed up, looking for his son.
00:26:11:21 UPS Ndira:
They say to his father...WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR CHILDREN, DEAD OR ALIVE, they say WE WANT YOU TO TEACH YOUR SON, SO WE START BY BEATING YOU. They started to attack him using slashers, knives, and stones.
00:26:29:17
Every day a group gathers outside the MDC's offices… victims of assault and other supporters. They catch up on election news and pass on information.
00:26:43:06 UPS Ndira:
Myself, my life is in danger...They want me to lose hope for MDC
00:26:49:09
For today Ndira is trying to assure Old Man Tungamirai that he and his son will be safe on their way home. But on election day he knows many who've been intimidated, will have to venture out… and stare down those they say they fear...
An estimated five million Zimbabweans are eligible to vote on Saturday and Sunday. Whatever the result, it will change the face of Zimbabwe forever. We asked Dydimus Mutase what would happen if Morgan Tsvangarai wins.
00:27:21:20 UPS MUTASA:
I think there will be mayhem…mayhem throughout the whole of this region.
00:27:27:15
00:27:27:17 UPS TSVANGIRAI:
I’m not given to the fact that we are inheriting a rose picture. I know we are inheriting a mess. But I can tell you that MDC has a vision and a plan.
00:27:40:22
00:27:41:01 UPS MUTASA:
Nobody will vote for a leader of that calibre and when you size him with Mugabe who has led this country for last 22 years. Then you find it a joke and that’s why I was saying maybe you should have asked whether we are over confident of winning.
00:28:02:23
00:28:03:17 The end.
Music Details:
1. 'rapid eye' composed by james copperthwaite, published by KPM, on KPM456, cut 7
2. '"what can we do?" composed by g. narhotz, published by SONOTON, on
SCD276, cut 27