Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Report — Of Stuffed ballots and Empty Stomachs A show of fealty is a matter of basic survival. In short, a gun was held to the head of the electorate and it was made clear that it was a ZANU(PF) finger on the trigger. In this context, the MDC’s complaint about the absence of a level electoral playing field, the early suggestions of a boycott of the elections and eventual participation “under protest” were clear signs to the electorate that the MDC did not regard itself as the government in waiting, and thus the party which would provide. Furthermore, the party’s vacillation about whether or not to participate in the elections had the effect of de-motivating many potential supporters. ZANU(PF)’S anti-Blair campaign, linked to the land confiscations, although crude, nonetheless appears to have found a resonance among many Zimbabweans who readily accept that colonialism is to blame for many of the country’s woes. This campaign, though often little more than overtly xenophobic and anti-white racist propaganda, was fairly effective. The MDC was demonized as an enemy of the State rather than allowed to present itself as legitimate democratic opposition. The closure of democratic space, outlined in the earlier election report, left the MDC few opportunities to combat this vilification. In the next section, the fulfilment of ZANU(PF)’s election “promises”, that is, the withdrawal of food hand-outs to, and violence against, perceived opposition supporters are examined. E. POST- ELECTION RETRIBUTION General overview As indicated in the previous sections, before the 31 March elections there were numerous reports of ruling party officials (including some newly elected MPs) and traditional leaders making threats of reprisals against people who voted for the MDC. The intimidation included threats of physical violence, threats that people would not receive food aid and threats to expel people from their villages. Since the election there have been reports from all around the country that these threats have been put into effect. Ruling party supporters have physically attacked people to punish them for supporting or allegedly supporting the opposition. In early April 2005 the MDC accused the ruling party of mounting a nation-wide campaign of violent reprisals against its supporters and alleged that scores of its supporters had been injured as a result of reprisal attacks or had their homes destroyed, with some having had their homes burnt down.78 The MDC Secretary General, Welshman Ncube, said, “ZANU(PF) have begun systematically hunting down people 78 Zimbabwe Independent 8 April 2005. 28