Human Rights NGO's label Zimbabwe polls a farce

HARARE - A report by Zimbabwe human rights groups -- working in conjunction with the University of Cape Town -- says the country's election is no more than a ritual meant to legitimise Zanu-PF's rule.

Zimbabwe is heading for elections on 23 August.

"Elections are producing the same outcome which is not reflective of the will of the people, year in, year out," said Musa Kika, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum director.

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"Human rights violations, actual violence and actual intimidation. The graph of violence spikes every five years in Zimbabwe whenever we have an election."

Zanu-PF has dismissed the article by the NGOs, saying the party has always condemned election violence.

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"There is no harassment currently taking place anywhere in the length and breadth of Zimbabwe and we have not seen the harassment that they are talking about taking place," said Zanu-PF official Kennedy Mandaza.

"But we are surprised the NGOs have taken it upon themselves to go out there and start again to speak against Zanu-PF, to speak against the party and government and say that Zanu-PF is harassing people."

* eNCA correspondent Pindai Dube reports.