JOHANNESBURG - About three quarters of Zimbabweans fear election campaigning will unleash higher levels of violence and intimidation than was the case during the 2008 general election.
Despite this, the majority want elections this year as a preferred alternative to the continuing GNU – but only after a new constitution and a referendum, revealed a study released here on Friday, entitled Changing Perceptions in Zimbabwe. International human rights organisation, Freedom House, the Mass Public Opinion Institute and political analyst, Susan Booysen, conducted the survey. Their key findings show a rise in violence against perceived opposition supporters over the past two years.
“11 percent declared that should be held ‘immediately’ and another 46 percent chose 2011, which in effect means 57 percent want elections this year. Yet respondents clearly stated that the constitution needs to be drafted and subjected to referendum before they go to elections,” says the report. According to the survey, 58 percent of the 1 200 respondents had experienced violence and intimidation during the period, while 89 percent of said they did not feel free to express political views.
Political violence and intimidation have been widespread in Zimbabwe for a long time now. They have shaped the context of elections since 1980. A large portion of Zimbabweans have been affected by violence - many more supporters of the MDC-T than of Zanu (PF), says the report.
“Zimbabwe circa 2010-11 was in many respects a different place from the Zimbabwe of February 2009 (the time of the formation of the inclusive government) and even from the time of the Freedom House survey of September 2009. Some power relations have been changing and living conditions have improved. Simultaneously, much had remained the same, including presidential and security force powers, and the power to unleash violence and enforce compliance.” In comparison to a previous study carried out after the formation of the inclusive government in 2009, it appeared most Zimbabweans were pessimistic about the improvement of the economic conditions in their country.
In 2009, 65 percent felt economic conditions would improve in the following 10 months. For 2010 this dropped to 49 percent. In 2009, 63 percent reckoned their economic conditions would be better in 12 months. In 2010 this shrank to 48 percent.
The survey collected the opinions during November and December last year on issues of political power, elections, fear and violence, the constitution and socio-economic conditions. It was conducted in all 10 provinces.

By Staff reporter and agencies