Zanu PF Continues to Derail Constitution-Making Process Living
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Iz qula enzo u I G ze o n ir z it o a G M u q a j u n l i a h C C h o i r n i t j i a a M M a a i j t i n r i o h C The Changing Times Movement for Democratic Change A Party of Excellence! The Official Mouthpiece of the MDC Tuesday 29 June MDC Information & Publicity Department, Harvest House, 44 Nelson Mandela Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe Issue 042: 2010 Roll of shame From this week, The Changing Times will be naming and shaming Zanu PF continues to derail people who are disrupting the people-driven Constitution Outreach program. Jabulani Sibanda Constitution-making process National War Veterans’ chairperson HARARE - Zanu PF is using a well- Mubochwa, has been ordered to stop He openly encouraged soldiers to In Makoni South, Manicaland orchestrated plan to disrupt the people- capturing the peoples’ views by Chief deal with all the people who are province, Jabulani Sibanda driven Constitution outreach program Fortune Charumbira. likely to oppose Zanu PF’s perceived addressed people in ward 28 on June 23, 2010 and told people through abductions, intimidation and stance on the Constitution-making process,” said Tinashe Mugoni, a gathered not to say anything inciting violence. Charumbira has since imposed his two except those chosen by headmen. nephews into the outreach team and villager in the area. He also instructed the kraal heads Reports from the provinces show barred Mubochwa from attending the to make registers of the people that Zanu PF is trying to frustrate the consultations. In Manicaland province, constituencies in their areas so that they are people’s project through intimidation, in Nyanga North, Makoni South, constantly monitored in case they threats, abductions and imposition of Speaking from Masvingo, MDC Chimanimani East, Buhera North, disobey his orders. people not seconded by the Constitution Senator for Hwata Hon Rorana Buhera Central and Mutare South Parliamentary Committee (Copac). Dandajena Muchihwa condemned Zanu PF is using village heads to force Major Badza Charumbira’s actions as prejudicing the villagers to attend Zanu PF meetings Soldier The incidents come despite calls by the whole process. and threatening with abductions An army officer and well known Zanu PF activist. Major Badza, leaders of the inclusive government and assaults whoever fails to attend the meetings. has been addressing villagers to shun political violence during the “The two relatives of Charumbira have in Chivi North, Masvingo Constitution-making process. not been seconded by Copac. They do In Nyanga North, the squad is threatening them with unspecified not even know how to operate a camera led by a self-styled war veteran, action if they give opinions that In Marondera East, Mashonaland East and we expect those people to deliver. Nyengedzai Mandikwaza and Zanu are opposed to the Zanu PF province, three MDC activists were on We can’t have these Zanu PF people PF ward chairman only identified position. Thursday abducted by State security stalling the process,” said an infuriated as Makanyanga. agents in Chief Svosve area. Senator Dandajena. Fortune Charumbira Traditional chiefs’ president In Makoni South, Jabulani Sibanda, Charumbira has replaced Copac Rodreck Shamuyarira and Temba At Mufuka village, Bikita, in Masvingo national war veteran chairperson, Masimura Mukunyadze were abducted province, Chief Marozva is openly resource persons in Masvingo COPAC co-chairperson, addressed people in Ward 28 and said province. He has replaced a by a group of armed men led by a well- encouraging soldiers and Zanu PF Hon. Douglas Mwonzora everyone should not say anything Copac cameraperson with his two known CIO operative identified as youths to attack MDC activists in except those people selected by relatives. He has also instructed Kuleya and a Law and Order CID officer the area. “We are afraid villagers will not the headmen. another Copac cameraperson not known as Munatsi, driving a white be at liberty to express their views to attend or cover any outreach double-cab CAM truck. Shamuyarira Chief Marozva’s homestead was used since they will be afraid of being The village heads are; Mavhezha, meetings. He is also using the was the first to be abducted at Twoboy as a torture base in 2008. spotted by the chief and his aides. Badze and Mandziwadondo. services of Zanu PF youth militia business centre while the same people to intimidate villagers in the area. followed Temba and kidnapped him at Village 17 in ward 21 of Marondera East. Another MDC activist, Gibson Masimura Mukunyadze, was later picked up by the same people outside Marondera Hotel. The three activists Living with the nightmare have been instrumental in mobilising MDC supporters in the area to participate in the on-going Constitution- making process. The three are now detained at of being gang raped Marondera Central police station on trumped up charges of assulting Zanu PF activist Aurthur Ngoma. BUHERA – MDC activist, Mary “It was a painful experience and just I seem to be thinking about it more now “What is even more disheartening is the Maunganidze still cannot come to thinking about it makes me feel dizzy than in the past,” she said. crimes are committed under the nose of In Bindura, Mashonaland Central terms with how she was attacked and nauseous,” says a very tearful Mary. the police but no arrests are made,” she province, an MDC activist, Lloyd at knife-point before being gang- “Zanu PF people are still accusing me Luwizhi was arrested on Thursday for said. raped by at least 20 Zanu PF thugs “Sometimes it is hard to describe what of supporting MDC and influencing mobilising people in the area to attend during the run-up to the June 2008 Copac’s outreach meeting. He is happened to me. I feel embarrassed or people in the ward to vote for the MDC. Maunganidze is one of thousands sham przesidential election. ashamed by what happened and I will expected to appear in court this week. of MDC supporters who fell prey never forgive the rapists or forget what “They allege that I am mobilising Maunganidze (not her real name) to Zanu PF supporters’ terror In Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West happened,” she said. people to become MDC supporters. province, a Copac public meeting was was raped for simply voting campaign after the party was defeated aborted at Chinhoyi Hall, after Zanu PF for the MDC during the 2008 However, despite all these challenges I Maunganidze is married and the couple by the MDC in the March 2008 supporters led by Mhondoro-Ngezi MP, elections and supporting the party. will not ditch the MDC because I know has three children. harmonised elections. Bright Matongo and Zvimba South MP, that the party is there to deliver real Walter Chidakwa ran amok disrupting Maunganidze of Buhera Central, change to Zimbabwe,” she said. the process. Manicaland province said “I am not sure that it’s ever possible for Over 500 MDC supporters were also although she was tested HIV me to get over being gang raped. I was killed during this period by Zanu PF “It is a very disheartening that the They said the meeting would not negative after the rape, she is gang raped in June 2008 and there are proceed until armed police officers youth militia who were aided by State facing a traumatic and tough crimes are being committed by Zanu were deployed at the meetings. days when it feels like yesterday. security agents and funded by the experience and was failing PF thugs and the police are turning a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. In Masvingo, a camera person deployed to cope with her day-to-day “I think with time it will get better but blind eye and delaying to bring these to the province by Copac, Jabulani household chores. I don’t believe I will ever get over it. criminals to book. MDC, delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe 1 Constitution outreach programme gains momentum By a Special Correspondent. Constitution, throwing that party’s Out of this desire we find it strange that The people are clear. They know that from Harare. Our experience shows that spokespersons in confusion. the former ruling party would insist to cleanse Zanu PF and to force it to everything, including the conferment While we acknowledge that the on directing its supporters and whole change its violent streak and to rid itself of national, provincial and district Constitutional outreach programme has We have always maintained that a truly, communities, especially the captive of the pungent smell of decay requires hero status had to be sanctioned and kicked off at a slow pace, all indications people-driven outreach programme “new farmers”, to harp on prefixing a detergent only the MDC is able to approved by Mugabe and his Soviet- are that the process is set to gather must allow for unfettered participation their contributions on “an executive manufacture and to administer. It will style politburo in Harare. momentum as people gain confidence and open discussions. We need to get president anenhorowondo yenyika take Zanu PF a much longer time than and the COPAC teams become fresh perspectives from a generation ino”. As far as we know, the liberation it dreams of to regain the trust, faith For that reason, the people know that visible countrywide. of Zimbabweans wishing to take struggle was a national project. and confidence of Zimbabweans. They what that party is saying today, if it is their country forward, while taking We all have the so-called “nhorowondo squandered numerous opportunities given another chance, will never see the Early signs from around Zimbabwe occasional glances at the past.