"Those democratic rights not removed by legislation will be snuffed out by violence," said Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, a professor of political science at the University of Zimbabwe. "The presidential election cannot be free and fair."
For nearly two years, bands of ruling party militants have occupied white-owned farms and attacked supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which presents the strongest challenge ever to President Robert Mugabe's 22-year rule.
About 150 people have been killed, thousands tortured and at least 70,000 rendered homeless, according to the Human Rights Forum, a consortium of local rights groups in Zimbabwe. The ruling party and the government were behind more than 90 percent of the attacks, the forum said.
In a report Tuesday, the forum said the ruling party had set up at least 22 militia bases around the country where militants tortured opposition supporters and gathered for attacks on opposition strongholds.
Tony Reeler, an official with the human rights group the Amani Trust in Zimbabwe, said the violence and intimidation is so widespread that "the no-go area is called Zimbabwe." [End Excerpt]