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ZIMBABWE: Opposition accuses government of assassination bid

JOHANNESBURG, 23 July (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Monday condemned as an assassination bid a weekend attack on the motorcade of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the northern town of Bindura.

The violence began on Sunday afternoon when Tsvangirai and other top opposition leaders arrived in the constituency. About 100 ruling ZANU-PF militants attacked the 13-car motorcade with stones, and burned one of the vehicles, according to the privately-owned 'Daily News'. The newspaper quoted MDC's security director as alleging that shots were first fired by the ZANU-PF supporters, prompting him to shoot into the air to allow the motorcade to escape. Five people were injured in the melee, the latest incident in Bindura ahead of next week's by-election.

"We interpret yesterday's barbaric attack on the convoy as a clear attempt on the life of party president Tsvangirai," MDC spokesman Learnmore Jongwe told IRIN. "The attack was carried out by a well-organised and well-paid group of agents who took cover in a broad group of village vigilantes."

Jongwe said that rather than swinging into action against the attackers, the police chose to detain MDC supporters: "Instead of arresting the known and identified suspects, the police picked up the victims of the assault ... The fact that the police are working with ZANU-PF makes the situation difficult. But we are not under any illusions that we can bring about democratic change without sacrifice."

Analysts told IRIN that the political violence was bound to escalate in the run up to next year's presidential elections. Brian Raftopoulos at the Institute of Development Studies said that President Robert Mugabe has no alternative but to "provoke" the opposition to the point where a state of emergency could be declared, handing the authorities sweeping powers.
"It's increasingly clear that in a free and fair election Mugabe will lose. The government knows that even under a strategy of violence it may still lose. The fear is that they may move to a state of emergency or postpone the election," Raftopoulos said.

He claimed that Zimbabwe's opposition was being forced to walk a tightrope - provoked by a government "spoiling for a fight", but aware of the political risks of responding. "In the end the government's naked force is going to be apparent and the region, especially South Africa, is going to have to respond."

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