VOA标准英语2011-ZANU-PF Military Forces Farmers to Attend

Although Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party seems to have accepted, in public at least, that elections are not possible before year end, many new black farmers north of the capital were told Tuesday by senior army personnel there would be "war" if ZANU-PF didn't win the next poll.

An officer in the Zimbabwe National army, accompanied by several colleagues, addressed new farmers at what used to be called the Ayshire Country Club.

Many farmers and workers attending the ZANU-PF rally now occupy white-owned land given to them by Mugabe in a process that began in 2000. One of at least five rallies in that farming district about 120 kilometers northwest of Harare, was held at the old club.

Among those who said he was compelled to attend the rally was a 46-year-old laborer¹ who asked not to be identified. He said all new farmers and their workers in the district were ordered to attend the six-hour rally, which was addressed by several well-known personnel from the national army.

He provided names of the main speakers. The man said the military provided transport for farmers and their workers to attend the rallies. He said farmers were anxious when a team of ZANU-PF aides questioned them about their finances.

He said some also were anxious because they were forced to interrupt work during the peak of the summer agricultural season.

The message given to those at the rally was that "If ZANU-PF and President Mugabe do not win the next elections, there will be war."

A commercial traveler, who also requested anonymity², said he had counted five ZANU-PF rallies, including the one at Ayshire Country Club.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF is in a coalition³ government with the Movement for Democratic Change, which won the last parliamentary elections in 2008.

On Sunday, the state newspaper, The Sunday Mail, which usually reflects ZANU-PF opinion, said it was unlikely that simultaneous presidential and legislative⁴ elections could be held in 2011.

Zimbabwe has committed to a new constitution before fresh elections, but parliament says a new charter will not be ready before September.

Mugabe told party faithful last month he was uncomfortable within the inclusive government and that new elections should be held this year to end power sharing with the MDC, which he described as a "puppet" of the west.

Since then, South African mediators on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, which guaranteed Zimbabwe's multi-party political agreement, said they will draw up a road map of reforms necessary before new elections.

In a public opinion survey by Afrobarometer that was released Wednesday a majority of people interviewed last October said memories of previous elections contributed to their fears of ZANU-PF violence in any upcoming poll.

The mobile telephones for senior ZANU-PF officials, including the party chairman, the party spokesman and the ZANU-PF defense⁵ minister in the inclusive government were all switched off Wednesday.

1 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

2 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。