At least 250 schools across Zimbabwe have closed down in recent weeks in the wake of a campaign of political intimidation against teachers. Human rights activists told IRIN had fled from violence or the threat of violence by supporters of President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party. As nominations closed after a day of special court hearings to check papers, some candidates said they would not dare to campaign openly. The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said it would contest all 120 seats but dozens were too dangerous for campaigning. Zimbabwe's economic crisis has forced businesses to cut working days or suspend trading and key decisions have been put on hold ahead of elections this month, the head of the country's main business group has said.
Business is bad.
Although the Constitution allows for multiple parties, opposition parties have been subject both to financial restrictions, which were relaxed only partially in 1998, and to periodic intimidation by the ruling party and government security forces.