Election a ritual to legitimise Mugabe, says rights group

Joining a growing chorus of disapproval and condemnation of political conditions in Zimbabwe ahead of elections on March 29, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) said because of an unfavourable environment, polls would neither serve the interest of democracy, the country nor the people.

"The 29 March 2008 elections will be held in a repressive environment replete with intimidation and organised violence and will simply become a regular self-legitimating ritual by the government of Zimbabwe," the CZC said in a report.