state intelligence agents—from unduly influencing the electoral process through violence and intimidation, the problems of past elections are likely to reoccur. The Attorney General’s Office has been run on partisan lines, abusing its prosecutorial authority to persecute MDC political activists while protecting ZANU-PF allies implicated in political violence and other serious human rights abuses. The GPA contains a commitment that “the government shall apply the laws of the country fully and impartially in bringing all perpetrators of politically motivated violence to book,”66 and the MDC presented evidence to the attorney general of political violence in 2008 that allegedly resulted in the deaths of at least 200 MDC supporters. Yet the attorney general has been unwilling to seriously investigate, let alone prosecute, these incidents.67 The MDC factions have pushed for the security forces to issue a public statement that they will unequivocally uphold the constitution and respect the rule of law prior to and following any election or referendum.68 However, ZANU-PF has rejected all security sector reforms insisting they are not electoral matters.69 Since May 2012 senior army commanders including Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba and Major General Trust Mugoba have publicly expressed support for President Mugabe and ZANU-PF, after Major General Martin Chedondo declared: “As soldiers, we will never be apologetic for supporting ZANU-PF because it is the only political party that has national interests at heart.”70 In recent months soldiers and sections of the police have declared certain locations “no go” areas for MDC supporters, disrupting and preventing MDC officials from holding lawful political rallies, violating fundamental rights, as well as undermining the electoral process.71 66 The Global Political Agreement, art. 18.5(c). 67 “MDC-T pushes for arrests for 2008 murders,” SW Radio Africa, January 16, 2012, http://www.swradioafrica.com/2012/01/16/mdc-t-push-for-arrests-of-2008-murderers/ (accessed September 23, 2012). 68 “Zimbabwe Elections Roadmap with Time lines.” 69 Ibid. 70 “Zanu-PF election tactics exposed,” The Zimbabwe Independent, October 5, 2012, http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2012/10/05/zanu-pf-election-tactics-exposed/ (accessed October 5, 2012). 71 “Soldiers, Zanu-PF youths disrupt MDC-T rally in Darwendale,” SW Radio Africa, July 16, 2012, http://allafrica.com/stories/201207170421.html (accessed September 7, 2012). RACE AGAINST TIME 24