THE presidential elections in Zimbabwe, which are due to take place on July 31, must be free of the violence that marred the last poll in 2008.

Then, 200 people were killed and thousands injured and made homeless.

It’s hard for us to imagine what it must have been like for ordinary Zimbabweans at that time.

The human rights abuses – beatings, torture and the fear people felt were horrendous.

So many were beaten that hospitals ran out of crutches.

Local people in Malvern can do their bit to help prevent a repeat of this.

From this week until the end of July, Malvern Hills Amnesty International will be running a ‘polling station’ at the Amnesty Book Shop, Edith Walk, Malvern.

We’ll be asking people to sign a card calling on leaders of Zimbabwe’s influential neighbours to put pressure on the country’s authorities to ensure these elections are violence-free.

Please show your support.

BARBARA STRUGGLES Malvern