By Justice Zhou
Harare

An official of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s beleaguered Zanu (PF) has revealed his party was nervous that allegations of politically motivated violence against it might be taken up for discussion at the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the weekend after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, minister of justice and Mugabe loyalist, Patrick Chinamasa, accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party of “lying through their teeth” about the political situation in Zimbabwe.

"The purpose is to first delay the elections, which is understandable, but more devilish is they [MDC] want us to be a subject of discussion in the UN Security Council without basis...,” Chinamasa was quoted as saying by the Zanu (PF)-controlled Herald newspaper.

He added: “They take very few isolated incidents and blow them out of proportion in order to paint a very disturbing picture about Zimbabwe. They know they are puppets of imperial powers that are pounding Libya and want to throw us in the same light.”

However, security forces and militia loyal to the long-time Zimbabwean despot have in recent months stepped up violence aimed at MDC supporters. Orchestrated arrests of top MDC officials and prodemocracy activists have also spiralled, while opposition political rallies have been cancelled.

This follows Zanu (PF) sudden threats to pull out of the coalition government, demanding elections before any reforms, and amid reports that a military junta has seized control of civilian administrative affairs, working behind the scenes to ensure Mugabe, 87, retained power by hook or by crook.

The move generated strong condemnation from international human rights bodies and regional political leaders, with growing calls for Mugabe to denounce violence and open new dialogue with his MDC rivals towards the implementation of reforms that would create an ideal landscape for free and fair elections.

Fears have been rife that, without a suitable environment for polls to be carried out, violence would once again plunge the southern African country into a crisis, presenting fresh humanitarian and immigration problems for the entire region.

But last week SADC leaders at the Livingstone summit harshly rebuked Mugabe to end political arrests, violence and intimidation and allow for reforms, including a new constitution before elections, as required by the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which he signed in 2008.

One main objective of the unity government was to stabilise the political landscape, instilling a climate of sustained peace.

Mugabe has since been locked in a power-sharing dispute with Tsvangirai, who defeated him in the first round of a bloody 2008 election, after the ailing Zanu (PF) leader flouted the GPA by making unilateral appointments of his cronies into key government posts, without the consent of the other principals as provided by the treaty.