While the MDC and independent candidate Simba Makoni have been able to hold major rallies in the main cities and some of the ruling party strongholds of the country in the build up to these elections, opposition representatives in the rural areas, in particular in the ruling party strongholds, have not been able to campaign or meet as freely. A recent report in the state-run Herald newspaper offers an example of the opposition’s inability to campaign freely in ruling party strongholds, despite the amendments to POSA: On February 20 a magistrate sentenced an MDC party chairman in Bindura to six months’ imprisonment, three of which were suspended, for convening an unsanctioned political meeting on February 10. The MDC party chairman had called a meeting of 20 MDC activists at a compound in the area.73 The magistrate later ordered the party chairman to serve 105 hours of community service.74 In September 2007 Human Rights Watch interviewed four opposition supporters from Manicaland who said that they were unable to hold MDC meetings or workshops in the rural areas because of intimidation and harassment from local militias and war veterans.75 On the one occasion they attempted to hold a small meeting in September, they were arrested by police under POSA for holding a meeting without police permission. In February 2008 five MDC supporters from the same area told Human Rights Watch that they were forced to hold clandestine meetings because police frequently denied them permission to hold meetings in the area.76 On March 5, 19 MDC youths were arrested in Karoi, Mashonaland West, and accused of gathering without police approval. The youths claimed they were putting up posters and people had gathered around to see the posters. They were released on bail on the following day.77 73 “Official Sentenced,” The Herald, February 21, 2008. 74 Ibid. 75 Human Rights Watch interview with MDC supporters, Tsonzo, Manicaland province, September 29, 2007. 76 Human Rights Watch interview with MDC supporters (names withheld), Mutare South, Manicaland, February 10, 2008. 77 Human Rights Watch interview with human rights monitor (name withheld), Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, March 9, 2008. 29 Human Rights Watch March 2008