Zimbabwe opposition says violence probe a sham

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition on Tuesday accusedthe government of President Robert Mugabe of setting up a shaminvestigation into election violence to deflect internationalattention from brutality by its supporters.

The Movement for Democratic Change opposition says 43 ofits members have been killed and scores forced out of theirhomes by militias loyal to Mugabe since disputed Marchelections.

It says the violence is intended to help rig a June 27run-off presidential vote pitting Mugabe against MDC leaderMorgan Tsvangirai.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said on Tuesday the party wasprepared to participate in joint committees set up by Mugabe'sZANU-PF to clamp down on electoral violence.

But he said the ruling party was merely on a damage controlexercise.

"ZANU-PF made those overtures to us because they are nowunder very serious pressure from the international community tostop the violence they are waging against our structures, but Idon't think they have any intention to stop," he told Reuters.

Last week, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa proposed thejoint committees to tackle violence, but Chamisa said theaggression against opposition members had continued unabated.

"The violence has not stopped and MDC supporters are stillbeing brutalised and being forced out of their constituenciesas part of the grand plan to rig the elections," he said.

RECOVERY PROCESS

According to official results, which did not emerge forfive weeks after the March 29 election, Tsvangirai beat Mugabebut fell short of the absolute majority needed for outrightvictory.

Zimbabweans hope the run-off will start recovery from aneconomic collapse that has brought 165,000 percent inflation,80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages andhas sent millions fleeing to nearby countries.

The MDC vows to "bury" Mugabe in the run-off, ending hisuninterrupted rule since independence from Britain in 1980.

ZANU-PF denies it plans to rig the polls but has vowed thatMugabe will win the run-off because it could not afford to losepower to an opposition backed by "white imperialists."

The state-owned Herald newspaper on Tuesday quoted ZANU-PFspokesman Nathan Shamuyarira as dismissing MDC charges thatstate security agents planned to assassinate Tsvangirai.

"The allegations by the Tsvangirai-led MDC have nofoundation whatsoever except in his own dreams. No-one inZANU-PF or government has any intention of killing him," hesaid.

The MDC said the plot forced Tsvangirai to postpone hisreturn to the country last weekend.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF lost control of parliament on March 29 forthe first time since the 84-year-old ruler took power.

(Writing by Marius Bosch; Editing by Barry Moody)