200805061195 | No violence, urges Zanu-PF

No violence, urges Zanu-PF

Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling party urged supporters on Tuesday to refrain from violence in the build-up to a presidential election run-off, accusing the West of trying to turn the country into a "theatre of war". "We are urging our members to avoid violence," Nathan Shamuyarira, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF)'s information and publicity secretary was quoted by the state-run Herald as saying.

"We are urging our people to go and campaign peacefully. We are also urging the opposition to avoid violence and respect people's lives."

Shamuyarira said some Western governments plotting to turn the southern African region into a warzone were fomenting conflict.

"Our people should know that the said intervention by the British and Americans is not meant to help the ordinary Zimbabweans but meant to further the interests of the British and Americans.

"They want southern Africa to be a theatre of war and confusion so that they are able to tap into our resources."

He urged Zimbabweans to put the country ahead of partisan interests.

"This is our country. This is our Zimbabwe ... We should all respect the leadership of our country. If one party wins and another loses, it's a party for Zimbabweans. We should continue to live and work together as brothers and sisters."

Shamuyarira's remarks came as the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said at least 21 of its supporters have been killed as violence continues to escalate in the aftermath of the March 29 general elections.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told AFP: "The situation in rural areas has become worse. It has reached worrisome and alarming levels. The regime is simply telling the people who voted overwhelmingly for change: "Don't vote again."

Zanu-PF lost its majority in parliament for the first time in 28 years in the March elections while none of the four presidential candidates garnered the required majority to be declared a winner.

The electoral agency is yet to announce a date for a presidential run-off but the opposition, which claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won an overall majority in the first round, is still to decide whether to participate.