HARARE Three representatives from civil society groups monitoring Zimbabwes constitutional reforms were on Sunday allegedly assaulted by supporters of President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party, as violence, logistical problems continue to dog the troubled reforms. The exercise to gather the views and ideas of Zimbabweans they want included in a proposed new constitution officially began last Wednesday but has been eclipsed by reports of serious administrative glitches and resurgent political violence.
The Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) that is leading the reforms has been able to hold very few public meetings to record the views of citizens because of the near-administrative chaos surrounding the exercise in many parts of the country and reported violence blamed on supporters of Mugabe and Zanu (PF).
The Zimbabwe Peace Project, Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human rights said three of their monitors, Paul Nechishanu, Artwell Katandika and Shingirayi Garira were severely assaulted by militant Zanu (PF) youths from Mugabes Mashonaland West home province, sustaining serious injuries and had money stolen from them.
The three groups that work to promote democracy, good governance and human rights in the country have dispatched 420 people around the country to monitor the government-led constitution making process in order to be able to evaluate whether the exercise was democratic and the outcome a true reflection of the peoples wishes.
In a joint statement issued Monday, they said the Zanu (PF) youths: used logs to assault the monitors. Garira sustained injuries on his eardrum while Nechishanu and Katandika suffered head injuries. The three monitors lost their mobile phones and some money.
The organisations added that the assault of the monitors followed the arrest of two other monitors in Manicaland province, Tapera Mavherevhedze and Godfrey Nyarota and their driver Cornelius Chengu who were arrested on Thursday last week, while monitoring the constitutional outreach process at Mukuni in Mutare North constituency.
The police have charged the monitors with practicing journalism without government accreditation, an offence under the tough Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The tough law that Mugabes previous government used to shut down several independent papers prohibits journalists from working and newspaper companies from publishing in the country without being registered with a government appointed Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). The two monitors are out on US$20 bail each.
Post published in: Politics