Mugabe party linked to deaths

Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, accused President Robert Mugabe's supporters yesterday of killing three of its supporters.

Trymore Midzi, an MDC youth leader in Bindura, about 60km (38 miles) north of the capital, Harare, died after being beaten and slashed through the head with a machete.

Elliot Pfebve, the MDC spokesman, said Mr Midzi's assailants were 20 supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF. Mr Pfebve said the victim was taken to hospital after the assault on Friday, then transferred to Harare and given 70 stitches to the head, before dying there on Monday.

According to the MDC – whose leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is challenging President Mugabe in an election expected in March – Mr Midzi was killed by a group of trained Zanu-PF militia. "They attacked him in Bindura, and were in uniform," Mr Pfebve said.

His death followed the killing of two other MDC members, Titus Nheya and Milton Chambati, last week. Pro-democracy activists believe that at least 110 people have died in politically motivated violence since last year's parliamentary election.

¿ The Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, seen as the only African leader able to exert influence on President Mugabe, cancelled his trip to Zimbabwe this week after the murder of Nigeria's Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige.