Tsvangirai joins mourners at activist's funeral

Tsvangirai joins mourners at activist's funeral

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ZIMBABWEAN opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had harsh words for President Robert Mugabe on Sunday, as he stood near the casket of a man he says was killed by Mugabe's supporters.

"This is a clear testimony of the callousness of this regime," Tsvangirai said to a funeral procession of hundreds gathered outside the capital city of Harare.

"They can kill us. They can maim us. But we are going on the 27th of June, our hearts dripping with blood, to vote him out of office."

Tsvangirai, who returned home on Saturday following a six week absence, was referring to the date of the runoff election with Mugabe.

Tonderai Ndira, a senior member of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party was kidnapped and shot to death, according to MDC party members.

The MDC has accused Mugabe supporters of the attack, along with other election-related violence which it says has claimed the lives of at least 40 supporters.

The Zimbabwe government has denied that the government had any role in the killing, and said the report was an effort by the MDC to gain international sympathy.

The fallout from the controversial March 29 election has caused international concern. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, after a long delay, ruled that neither candidate won the required majority of votes, and scheduled a runoff election for June 27.

President Mugabe has acknowledged a "disastrous" election setback in the first round of voting.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa acknowledged that Zanu PF was fighting for survival.

"We are fighting with our backs to the wall," he told the state-owned Sunday Mail.

In other comments, he set the tone for the election campaign by linking the opposition to colonial-era enemies Britain and white farmers.

Tsvangirai, who claims he won the first election, wants international observers to monitor the second round of voting, but Mugabe's government has turned down the demand.
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