... as international community warns against violenceCOPAC, an outreach programme to gather the publics views on Zimbabwes proposed new constitution, will run from tomorrow to end of September after donors availed required resources.
The hit-squad under the command of one of the most ruthless deputy director general (internal) of the dreaded Central Intelligent Organization (CIO), Elias Kanengoni, is reported to be using the 2008 presidential poll style of violence against the villagers.
Villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said the squad was already operating although it was still keeping a low profile.
It is not yet clear how they will identify these so called undisciplined members but the group is already intimidating some members of the community especially those that have been critical to the Zanu (PF) party.
Some villagers have been given stern warnings against participation in the constitution making process, said a villager who requested anonymity.
Kanengoni is a known staunch Zanu (PF) member. In the early 90s he shot and injured a fellow Zanu (PF) member, the late Patrick Kombayi, who was vying for a parliamentary seat. Kombayi later died as a result of the injuries sustained in the shooting. He (Kanengoni) was convicted as a result of the shooting, although he never spent a single moment behind bars at the intervention of his master President Robert Mugabe.
In Mberengwa Chief Bhera Mataruse also a known Zanu (PF) supporter, last week held a meeting at Svita Secondary School with village heads under his Mataruse area and issued an order that people in this area should not be allowed to give their views to COPAC teams.
The chief warned that anybody who will be seen cooperating with the outreach teams will be severely punished. He accused COPAC teams of being agents of the western countries, a headman who attended the meeting told The Zimbabwean.
Chairperson for the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Mberengwa, Edius Moyo, confirmed that Chief Mataruse warned villagers not to cooperate with COPAC.
Chief Matarause is trying by all means to cause confusion during the new constitution process. Last week he requested everybody including MDC supporters here to campaign for the adoption of the Kariba Draft as Zimbabwes new constitution, but we are not going to allow that, said Moyo.
Last month The Zimbabwean reported that gun-toting soldiers were roaming in villages in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces, threatening people with reprisal if they did not support the Kariba draft during the forthcoming constitution outreach programme. The draft was adopted by Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations as part of the Global Political Agreement. Zanu (PF) is urging its supporters to adopt the draft without any debate.
Outreach teams are expected to conduct three meetings in each of the countrys 1 935 wards in the country.
In Muzarabani an MDC-T activist, Elias Dzinesu, and his family are now homeless following the burning of their house by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters led by traditional leaders in the area.
My house was burnt on Monday (last week) 1 am but I was not there since I had been tipped off by somebody that I was targeted, said Dzinesu, a victim of the 2008 political violence who now suffers from periodic back aches.
Dzinesu accused the headman of the area, Titus Mutasa, of masterminding the arson.
At a village meeting that was called by the headman, I challenged him after he had said that only Zanu (PF) supporters would speak, and he threatened me saying that I was not welcome in his village and I would suffer the consequences, he said.
Already Dzinesu has been disposed of his land after the headman, with the blessings of Chief Kaseketa Changara, accused him of not belonging in the area.
Along with scores of other villagers Dzinesu migrated to Muzarabani from Masvingo in 1990.
Dzinesu said during the night of the arson he slept in a goat pen and watched in horror as his house, property and food were razed to the ground.
He said he identified the headman who had threatened him.
However, Dzinesu, who is now seeking refuge in Harare, said there would be no free participation of the constitutional debate in Muzarabani.
People will not be able to express their will. My house was burnt because I had said that I will not be silenced.
It is not the first case of arson in Muzarabani this year. A church belonging to the Pentecostal Holiness was burnt in March while the priests house was also burnt allegedly for housing MDC supporters,
Meanwhile members of the international community have warned politicians from manipulating peoples views during the outreach process.
In a statement partners of the constitution making process which included the European Commission, Sida, UK, USAID, the governments of France,Australia,Norway,Denmark and the Netherlands, said people should be give an opportunity to express their views freely without political interference.
As partners we are interested in seeing a people driven process which produces an outcome that reflects the genuine views and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe. A participatory, inclusive and transparent process in which all the citizens have the freedom to express their views without coercion ensures a credible outcome, read the statement.
It is our hope that the national authorities will take all necessary measures to ensure the credibility of the process. We also hope that the country will benefit from international best practice and avoid pitfalls of flawed processes elsewhere that have tended to undermine the credibility of the outcome, read a joint statement.
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