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ZANU PF is reportedly forcing villagers to attend political meetings where they are taught how to respond to outreach teams when they solicit views on the new constitution.
The latest reports of intimidation, especially in rural areas, have heightened fears that Zimbabweans will once again be denied the opportunity to freely determine their future.
Consultations on the constitution were suspended two weeks ago after the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) ran into a number of logistical problems.
The political battles are set to add another dimension to the various issues threatening the historic process.
MDC-T says Zanu PF has conscripted soldiers, youth militia and war veterans, who spearheaded the party’s ruthless campaign in the June 2008 polls, to cow villagers into supporting the Kariba Draft.
Zanu PF has been pushing for the Kariba Draft -— a document crafted three years ago — to be adopted as the new constitution while the MDC-T wants a “people-driven” process.
The MDC-T said intimidation was most pronounced in Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland East.
Pishai Muchauraya, the party’s spokesperson for Manicaland, confirmed that Zanu PF was force-marching villagers to political meetings where they are instructed to back the Kariba Draft.
He said Zanu PF had roped in traditional leaders, youth militia and soldiers to intimidate or beat up those who try to resist attending the meetings.
“Only last week, people were forced to attend one such rally at Jani resettlement area where they were told what to say when outreach teams finally come,” said Muchauraya, (MDC) MP for Makoni South.
“Headman John Rukweza called the meeting but we have names of soldiers, war veterans and youth militia who were driving people out of their homes.”
Rukweza, a known Zanu PF supporter, even threatened to eject people from the area if they put forward submissions favoured by the MDC-T, Muchauraya said.
“The inclusion of soldiers, militia and war veterans in the process is an attempt to instil fear in the hearts of the people,” he said.
“They are telling people that if they fail to support the Kariba Draft they will be killed like what happened to others in June 2008.”
At least 200 MDC-T activists were reportedly killed during the June 2008 elections while thousands of its supporters were displaced as President Robert Mugabe 's party embarked on a violent campaign seeking his re-election in a run-off.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the race citing the violence.
Last Sunday, Zanu PF militia and soldiers frog-marched villagers to an outreach meeting held at Xanadu Farm in Goromonzi in Mashonaland East.
“They were telling us what to say when the outreach teams come,” said a villager who attended the meeting. “For example, we were told to reject title deeds to our land in favour of 99-year leases.
“They are saying if we get deeds, our farms will be repossessed by banks when we fail to pay back loans.”
The previous week, another political meeting had been held at Bromley Country Club where villagers were also instructed to stick to the Kariba Draft.
“The other strategy is that only those selected by Zanu PF militia will be allowed to speak when the outreach teams finally come.
“If anyone else speaks without permission that person will be in trouble when the teams leave,” said another villager who attended the Bromley meeting.
In Nyanga North, militia bases have re-emerged with soldiers threatening villagers with death if they refused to support the Kariba Draft.
Douglas Mwonzora, MDC-T Nyanga North MP and Copac co-chair, said he had seen militia bases and has raised the issue with Zanu PF.
Mwonzora will also raise the issue at the constitution-making management committee meeting this week. “We cannot carry out any outreach when these bases are there because they bring back bad memories of June 2008,” Mwonzora said.
“This is political criminality designed to smuggle unwanted ideas in our constitution.”
“Zanu PF calls the bases information centres but these are bases by another name serving the same purpose; that of intimidation.”
The situation is the same in Gutu West, Zaka and Chivi central in Masvingo as well as parts of the Midlands and Mashonaland.
“If our management committee meeting fails to address this problem we will have to take the issue to the principals because we cannot come up with a democratic constitution under the current environment,” Mwonzora said.
“Article VI (of the Global Political Agreement) clearly states that the process must be democratic and people-driven.”
But Zanu PF has vowed to intensify the party’s outreach programmes saying it wants a constitution that reflects the ideals of the liberation struggle.
Zanu PF deputy spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said the party’s politburo on Wednesday resolved to intensify the party’s outreach programme.
“The meeting resolved that the outreach programmes be intensified in order to ensure that the ideals and principles of the revolution are enshrined within the constitution,” Masawi said. He denied knowledge of the bases or that Zanu PF was forcing people to attend their outreach programmes.
Civic organisations and MDC have rejected the use of the Kariba Draft as a basis for the new constitution because it leaves the president’s vast powers unchecked.
Some the controversial clauses include one that permits Mugabe to serve another two five-year terms.
There are also no limits to the number of government ministers appointed by the president neither does it promote the devolution of power to the provinces.
The draft also makes no provision for the post of Prime Minister and it gives the president powers to declare war without consulting anyone.
The president would have the right to appoint judges and fire them at will.
BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE
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