The ZESN, which campaigns for democratic elections in the country, spoke amid increasing reports that members of President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party from Mashonaland East and Central provinces are barring people from attending meetings organised by non-governmental organisations.
ZESN director Rindai Chipfunde Vava said: “What is needed is to hold workshops with traditional leaders and political parties leadership because without their buy-in penetration in their areas of jurisdiction will be difficult.
At the moment we are not having problems with the police, but members of certain political party who after meetings have been cleared by the police they come and disrupt such meetings and we are really worried by that. It must be known that electoral and constitutional issues are human rights and no person should be deprived of enjoying these rights.
Mobs of Zanu (PF) youths and so-called war veterans have reportedly gone around parts of the two Mashonaland provinces threatening villagers with violence and death for attending meetings organised by civil groups such as ZESN.
For example, villagers from in Mudzi district in Mashonaland East say Zanu (PF) youths have threatened to evict or even murder people who attended a meeting organised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition group to discuss the constitutional reform process.
The youths told the villagers that they should attend only meetings called by Zanu (PF).
Zanu (PF) spokesman Rugare Gumbo was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
Post published in: Politics