Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Executive Director Roel von Meijenfeldt commented on the developments in Zimbabwe in a Dutch TV discussion called NOVA.

On 29 March Zimbabwe held presidential and parliamentary elections. Both before and after the election day, the governing ZANU-PF, backed by security forces and the police, obstructed the opposition party’s campaign by intimidation, oppression and violence. A few days before the second round of the Presidential elections, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai decided not to participate due to the violence and sought refuge in the Dutch embassy.