Disproportionate fear in the��life of MDC‐T supporters
The current political environment – Zimbabweans’ perceptions of it – appears somewhat less fear‐
inducing than in the past (point subject to a specific 2010‐12 comparison). The results show that MDC‐T
supporters, more than their ZANU‐PF counterparts, report the continuation of fearfulness in making
known their political positions. This factor thus does remain continuously important.
The three measures in Q37 clearly differentiate MDC‐T supporters from those of ZANU‐PF. The
Undeclareds whose votes are their secret (Table 21) have higher fear levels than the ZANU‐PF category,
but are less fearful than their MDC‐T counterparts. Whereas fear of violence and intimidation for
political reasons (whether in daily lives or in election campaigns) are certainly also present amongst the
rank‐and‐file of ZANU‐PF, there are quite consistently close to double the percentage of MDC‐T
supporters than of ZANU‐PF that report that one ‘always’ had to be careful about what one says about
politics, about fearing intimidation in election campaigns, and fearing intimidation in daily lives.
The data show that the undeclared category of voters, and in particular those who say their vote is their
secret, are less fearful of intimidation than their MDC‐T counterparts (Table 20). For example, 60% of
MDC‐T supporters say they or members of their family have experienced intimidation, threat or
harassment (compared with 32% from ZANU‐PF and 35% ‘Secreters’). On having suffered personal injury
for political reasons, 45% of the MDC‐Ts say they have suffered this (compared with 23% from ZANU‐PF
and 25% ‘Secreters’). This suggests that fear is not a sufficient reason to explain non‐declaration of party
support intentions.
Table 21:
Fear of political intimidation in daily lives and election campaigns, 2012
Acts of political intimidation
Frequency
MDC‐T
ZANU‐PF
Undeclared
(%)
(%)
(%)
People have to …
Be careful about what they say
Often
34
28
33
about politics
Always
45
30
44
Fear political intimidation during
election campaigns
Often
Always
22
63
23
45
16
61
Fear political intimidation as they
go about their daily lives
Often
Always
28
26
18
13
19
30
Notes: Table contents single out two of the five response categories on Q37, ‘In this country, how often do people
…’ The three block of vertical percentages thus do not, respectively, add up to 100%. The bulk of the responses
were in these two categories. Undeclared in this table refers to the respondents who elect to keep their vote a
secret.
40
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