8 the birth of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). When it became apparent that ZANU PF was in danger of being voted out of power, it responded with extreme violence and literally declared war on the MDC. In the run-up to the General Election in June 2000, it embarked upon a violent campaign to suppress political opposition, using the land issue to mask its true objective – the retention of power. From 2000 until the present, the ruling party has used violence as a political tool, conducting a widespread and systematic campaign of violent persecution directed against the MDC. The perpetrators of this violence have been ruling party supporters, war veterans, youth militia, intelligence personnel, members of law enforcement agencies and army personnel. In March 2007 the pensions for war veterans were substantially increased and it was also announced that war veterans would be recruited into the army as a reserve force. The war veterans announced that it would continue to support the ruling party. There are numerous instances of statements by leaders and officials in the ruling inciting violence against members of the opposition. The violence against the opposition has peaked at the time of Parliamentary and Presidential elections. Pardoning of attackers of Patrick Kombayi Patrick Kombayi was the national organising secretary of an opposition party, the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM). He was shot and seriously injured by Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives on 24 March 1990. This shooting occurred just three days away from an election in which Kombayi was standing against Vice President Simon Muzenda for the Gweru Urban seat. ZUM has mounted the first notable challenge to the ruling Zanu PF party. The two government officers who attempted to kill Patrick Kombayi in 1990 were pardoned by President Mugabe on the day that they were convicted of attempted murder. Statements by Robert Mugabe In 1985, after the parliamentary elections, Mugabe made a speech in which he told the people of Harare to “go out and weed your gardens”. Twenty civilians believed to support the opposition ZAPU party, including a pregnant woman, were beaten to death by ZANU PF supporting crowds in the next few days, while scores of properties were burnt. (Source: Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Legal Resources Foundation, Breaking the silence, building true peace: a report on the massacres in Matabeleland and the Midlands 1980-1988, Harare, 1997,) During the election campaign in March 1990, he said: “We are saddened that there are others who want us divided. But people must not listen to small, petty little ants which we can crush.” Their words condemn them: The language of violence, intolerance and despotism in Zimbabwe.