British Professor at the University of Birmingham Nic Cheeseman says opposition parties in countries like Uganda and Zimbabwe are finding it hard to fight elections effectively as they are criminalised and have to be more worried about arrests, jails and violence against them, TheNewsHawks reported.

The opposition in Zimbabwe has to invest scarce time and energy in evading physical attacks and arbitrary imprisonment on trumped-up charges.

"Instead, they have to invest scarce time and energy in evading physical attacks and arbitrary imprisonment on trumped-up charges - including treason - that could see them locked up in prison with limited or no protection against COVID-19," said Cheeseman.

Cheeseman is professor of democracy at the University of Birmingham and founding editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia.

He co-authored a book, "How to rig an election without getting caught".

Currently Job Sikhala, the outspoken vice chairman of the Nelson Chamisa led Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-Alliance), is facing charges for inciting the public to commit violence.

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