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High turnout in fear-ridden by-election

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January 15, 2001 

HARARE-- (AP) - A leading Zimbabwean academic was briefly detained while interviewing voters during a crucial by-election in Bikita, local reports said Sunday as voting entered its second and final day.

Masipula Sithole, professor of politics at the University of Zimbabwe, said he was released after police warned him to "abandon his survey." He was not given any reason for his arrest.

Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, said the incident highlighted the climate of fear built up during weeks of campaigning, when many fled to the hills to avoid pro-government "war veterans" and one ruling ZANU-PF supporter was fatally stabbed in a brawl.

Jonathan Moyo, President Robert Mugabe's information minister, claimed the terror was the work of the MDC, which captured the seat in Bikita, 300 miles (480 kilometers) south of the capital Harare, by a narrow 300-vote margin during parliamentary elections in June.

The MDC candidate died of cancer just three months after taking office and a by-election was called.

"The slashing of several hectares of maize crops by hooligans shows beyond doubt the MDC is as mean spirited as its former Rhodesian sponsors," said Moyo, reviving claims that the opposition aims to block a controversial government plan to redistribute white owned farms to landless peasants.

State media issued astonishingly high voting figures for the first day of polling on Saturday. A broadcast said half of the 40,000 registered voters cast their ballots, compared to 13,800 during both days of voting in June.

The broadcast said 4,000 would-be voters were turned away for undisclosed reasons. The seat was one of 58 won by the opposition in June, compared to 62 for ZANU-PF, in an election marred by violence and intimidation.

There have been no reports of serious violence during the by-election. The result is expected to be announced late Monday.

Vice President Simon Muzenda, acting head of state during Mugabe's protracted holiday with his family in Malaysia, says the by-election will be crucial to Mugabe's bid to seek a further six-year term from 2002-2008. Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980.

The MDC has launched a bid in Parliament to have Mugabe impeached over the killing of up to 40 opponents by alleged hit squads.