Entire villages in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central Province have been deserted by peasants fearing political violence ahead of seven crucial parliamentary by-elections. Johannesburg's 'The Star' newspaper reported on Tuesday that villagers in the Bindura constituency had fled their homes and sought refuge elsewhere. A by-election is to be held in Bindura on 28 and 29 July to replace Youth Affairs Minister Border Gezi who died in a car crash about one month ago.