Thus has the bravest, best organised and most tenacious democratic opposition movement in Africa's history gone down to defeat. Mr Tsvangirai, aware of the great danger to which protest would expose his many supporters, has appealed for calm. He himself may now, outrageously, be arrested on charges of treason. Mr Mugabe has said as much. A man who, back in 1982, sent in brigades to massacre 20,000 Ndebele must be judged ready to carry out his threat.
Mr Tsvangirai, and the men and women who have conquered their fear in his support, deserve the unstinting support of all African leaders with any claim to democratic legitimacy. They are not getting that support. The Organisation of African Unity, true to its reputation as a despots' club, has pronounced the poll to be "transparent, credible, free and fair". Kenya's Daniel arap Moi has congratulated his "dear brother" on the "confidence and high esteem the people of Zimbabwe hold in you". Tanzania's President delights in his "richly deserved" triumph. The observers sent by South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, ferociously mocked at home for their complacency, term the outcome "legitimate", though they could not quite bring out the words "free and fair".***
March 2002 - Defiant Mugabe presses Tsvangirai treason - The Guardian -*** In a courtroom packed with his supporters, Mr Tsvangirai pleaded not guilty to the charge that he sought to hire Canadian political consultants to assassinate Mr Mugabe. His lawyer, Eric Matinenga, said told the court that the charge was "a kneejerk reaction" to Zimbabwe's one-year suspension from Commonwealth membership.
"Mr Tsvangirai's stake in this country is too high to think he would run away from allegations that are very weak indeed," Mr Matinenga said. The MDC's secretary general, Welshman Ncube, who is also charged with treason, said the charges were "an attempt to continue the harassment of the leadership of the MDC and to make it impossible for us to continue to resist an illegitimate government". He said the suggestion that the MDC should enter into a government of national unity with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party "was always out of the question", adding: "You cannot negotiate a government of national unity with a government you believe to be illegitimate." ***
Government pledges to investigate allegations of torture against opposition lawmaker Job Sikhala, his lawyer and three others were all part of a cover-up, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said.
"It is a whitewash, a way of trying to convey a nation at peace with itself," he said.
Zimbabwe is hosting six World Cup cricket matches beginning Feb. 10, and President Robert Mugabe is scheduled to attend an African summit in France later in February. Britain and its former colonies are to discuss in March whether to continue barring Zimbabwe from its committees.
Zimbabwe has been wracked by political and economic turmoil since March 2000 when ruling party militants began a state-orchestrated campaign to seize thousands of white-owned commercial farms.
The government has denied opposition allegations of systematic torture by police, though human rights groups have regularly reported on such abuse.
Sikhala's "isolated allegation against the force is, for very obvious reasons, being hyped and sensationalized for political self gain," government spokesman George Charamba said.
Announcing a torture inquiry in the state media Sunday, police inspector Cecilia Churu said a team of investigators was formed last week, but most torture allegations were "aimed at distracting people from the serious allegations (they) might be facing."
Sikhala's layer Gabriel Shumba said he was also tortured. At a court appearance on Jan. 16, Shumba said he was masked by police and intelligence agents who accused him of plotting to overthrow the government after arresting him the day before.
Power cables were later attached to his toes, genitals and teeth, Shumba said. He said he was doused with water as the power current was increased and ordered to lick up blood that had spewed from his mouth.
Shumba was then hospitalized for a week and claimed to have medical records proving he was tortured.
Sikhala, appearing in court the same day, said police urinated on him, made him roll in their urine and forced him to drink urine. He was accused of involvement in the firebombing of a bus owned by the state transport company, charges he denied.
Tsvangirai called Monday for an independent commission to investigate at least 1,060 reports of torture by police and state agents, mostly of opposition supporters, last year.
He said the government acted as if it were disciplining disobedient children before visitors arrive, he said.
The southern African country is suffering its worse economic crisis since independence in 1980. Acute food shortages have left nearly 7 million people, more than half the population, facing famine. [End]