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Where's Jimmy or Jesse? Opposition cites harassment, intimidation in race for parliament seat*** In the June 2000 parliamentary elections, Mugabe faced his most serious challenge since coming to power in 1980. The opposition won 57 seats to the ruling party's 62 in the race. Mugabe had controlled all but three seats in the previous legislature. The Movement for Democratic Change has since lost one seat after the death of another of its lawmakers.

Ruling party officials say victory in Insiza and a third seat left vacant by the death Tuesday in a jail cell of an opposition lawmaker, is an important step towards reducing the opposition's power in the 150-seat parliament. Mugabe appoints 30 lawmakers and needs a two-thirds majority vote to change the nation's constitution. The opposition has blocked proposed constitutional changes. If the ruling party wins the two by-elections it will be four seats short of carrying a two-thirds vote.***