HARARE Reports have been made country-wide that Zanu (PF) has stepped up its intimidation tactics ahead of the constitution making process set to kick off next month. This week a high-level undercover delegation was sent into Epworth, a shanty town on the outskirts of Harare, by the Union for Sustainable Democracy.
The findings shocked members. We were dismayed by repeated accounts of how Zanu (PF) thugs are threatening to mete out violence on anyone who defies their formula for the constitution-making process, read a statement from the organisation.
Epworth residents Tapiwa Machipisa, Rumbidzai Kaseke, Philip Nyajeka, Simon Zhakata and Priscilla Chakabva all spoke emotionally about how people in Epworth have been ordered by Zanu (PF) thugs to report for political meetings against their will.
The message, they said, has been a very simple one: Shut up and leave the task of responding to questions to those who have been selected to do so.
In the unlikely event of ordinary residents having to respond to questions, they are to answer in a particular fashion. In particular they have been instructed to emphatically state that the new constitution must not put any limit on a presidents term of office. Clearly, the intention is to confirm Mugabe as president for life.
There will be more educative meetings chaired by loyal Zanu (PF) supporters to ensure that people understand how the constitution-making process is to be handled.
Landlords have been instructed to keep watch on their tenants and to either summarily evict anyone perceived to be sympathetic to the MDC or refer their names to chairpersons for handling.
Meanwhile, residents have been given a month to acquire Zanu (PF) membership cards which, like Identity Documents, they have been ordered to carry at all times.
Intimidation condemned
They have been warned that election violence this time around will be much worse than in 2008.
We view this fresh wave of intimidation with alarm and condemn it in the strongest possible terms. It is outrageous that thousands of innocent people can be forced to live in fear simply in order to guarantee the realisation of the unconstitutional and evil ambitions of a handful of people. We urge the unity government to swiftly and decisively denounce this act of repression, said a spokesperson from the organisation.
Elsewhere in the country, residents of Plumtree, Chimanimani and Marondera have lodged complaints of violent outbursts spearheaded by top Zanu (PF) officials.
In Plumtree the MDC shadow senator for Bulilima, Vincent Mabhikwa Moyo, reported an escalation of violence from Zanu (PF) thugs, led by Zanu (PF) councillor Simon Sibanda and Chief Israel Tokwana.
People in Bulilima are not free. They are forced to attend Zanu (PF) meetings and prevented from attending MDC meetings. They are told that if they fail to attend the Zanu (PF) meetings, or if they attend MDC meetings, they will loose the farms which were given to them by Zanu (PF), said Moyo.
Moyo said that people had to be free to choose their party, be it Zanu (PF), MDC or Zapu, and should not be coerced.
Efforts of suppression
In Chimanimani, the losing MP and former Zanu (PF) minister Munacho Mutezo is reportedly leading a campaign of terror and working with Zanu (PF) war veterans and a Lieutenant Colonel Murecherwa from the Zimbabwe National Army.
Murecherwa is reportedly assigning junior soldiers to lead a horrific campaign of violence and intimidation in the constituency. The soldiers are allegedly using threats and physical violence against the MDC supporters.
The MDC Manicaland Province spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya has confirmed receiving such reports.
Said Muchauraya: I have received the reports of violence. The violence is being unleashed in an effort to suppress people’s views during the outreach exercise.
He is leading numerous meetings with villagers where we are being forced to attend. He is also threatening MDC supporters with death if the Kariba Draft fails, said an MDC supporter who declined to be named for fear of reprisals.
Muchauraya said the MDC was reporting the cases of violence to the police but nothing was being done.
We are also attempting to discourage the perpetrators of this violence, but it is very hard for us to confront armed soldiers, said Muchauraya.
Living in fear
The Zanu (PF) councillor for Marondera rural district council, Mashayamombe, together with local war veterans, has been threatening residents with evictions for failing to attend daily political meetings where they are told to support the Kariba draft when COPAC outreach teams visit their area.
We are living in total fear as we are intimidated, threatened with death and evictions if we do not report to these daily meetings. They are keeping a register in which they are ticking names of those who would have attended the meetings, said residents.
At least 100 people, some of whom were victims of Murambatsvina, are housed in the area. They do not pay rentals to anyone and most of them earn a living by working at nearby farms.
They said it was against this background that councillor Mashayamombe and war veterans were taking advantage of them.
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