AFRICA: Three Zimbabwean opposition members of parliament campaigning for next month's elections have been abducted, beaten and tortured for two days by supporters of President Robert Mugabe in a remote town, according to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
The three were paraded, injured and bleeding, wearing handcuffs in front of the police station in Nkayi yesterday while 37 other opposition party officials and supporters were also held, the MDC says. The attack marks an escalation of political violence in the run-up to the poll. Until now, the ruling Zanu-PF's militia has reserved its attacks for less prominent opponents.
The MDC also says at least four party supporters have been beaten to death this week, and a new wave of political terror is sweeping through Matabeleland in southern Zimbabwe, a key area of opposition support.
The three politicians - Mr Abednico Bhebhe, MP for Nkayi, Mr Peter Nyoni, MP for Victoria Falls, and Mr Joel Gabuza, MP for Binga - led a convoy to distribute leaflets for Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader who is challenging Mr Mugabe in the presidential poll on March 9th and 10th.