Mugabe accused of media crackdown

HARARE, Zimbabwe, March 12 (UPI) -- Democracy groups accused the government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe of violating regional election reform legislation, SW Radio Africa said.

The South African organization, Zimbabwe Democracy Now, ZDN, ran a series of ads in South African newspapers accusing Mugabe of violating rules imposed by the 14-nation South African Development Community.

The ads say lawmakers from Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Party and the Movement for Democratic Change Party cracked down on media outlets in Zimbabwe, despite calls for equal coverage of all political parties in the state-owned media.

ZDN says only state-owned newspapers are allowed to run in Zimbabwe and the government banned other news agencies.

The SADC regulations also call for the freedom of assembly, voter education campaigns and independent election monitors.

Zimbabweans head to the polls March 29 to vote for president.