Johannesburg - A veteran Zimbabwean opposition leader called Thursday for a campaign to bring the country to a halt after a disputed election that has seen President Robert Mugabe's allies claim victory.
“There needs to be resistance against this theft and the people of Zimbabwe need to speak out strongly,” the Movement for Democratic Change's Roy Bennett told AFP in Johannesburg.
“I'm talking about passive resistance. I'm talking about people completely shutting the country down - don't pay any bills, don't attend work, just bring the country to a standstill.”
Bennett, an aide to Mugabe's longterm rival Morgan Tsvangirai, spends much of his time outside Zimbabwe after a series of arrests.
He remains MDC treasurer.
Mugabe's allies declared the veteran leader had romped to victory in Wednesday's poll.
Bennett expressed dismay at an election he described as an “absolute total sham.”
“I'm totally shocked at how badly they've rigged it and expect to get away with it.”
“Its not a case of even rigging it. It's a case of having totally stolen it. Blatant, outright, daylight theft of the greatest proportions.” - AFP
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