Chiefs leader undermining outreach programme: MDC

Charumbira, a chief from Masvingo province and president of the Chiefs Council, is a staunch supporter of President Robert Mugabe and his party and at one time called for the 86-year old President to rule for life. MDC-T Senator Morgan Komichi, who is in charge of coordinating the partys participation in the reforms, claimed Charumbira has attempted to use several meetings in Masvingo to drum up support for Zanu (PF) positions on the new constitution. Komichi urged the COPAC management to take disciplinary action against those seen as working to poison or destroy the program.

COPAC banner

The MDC-T senator said his party had no problems with Charumbira canvassing support for Zanu (PF) interests and positions but said he should not use the COPAC banner and resources to drive a partisan agenda. He has abandoned his duties as a COPAC delegate and is now playing a deconstructive role in the whole process. Because of his prior knowledge of the program in the province, he is now using it to his advantage to turn COPAC meetings into Zanu (PF) rallies, Komichi said. Chief Charumbira was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

Komichi, a deputy organising secretary in the MDC, claimed that Chief Charumbira was visiting venues for COPAC meetings ahead of outreach teams to coerce people to toe the Zanu (PF) line. He said the chief was working in cahoots with a Chivi businessman, Sanders Magwizi, who he said provides transport to Zanu (PF) youths to move around the area intimidating villagers to follow the Mugabes partys line on the new charter.

His modus operandi is simple. He wakes up early in the morning, travels to scheduled meetings three or four hours ahead of outreach teams. Once there he reads them the riot act and orders those gathered to strictly follow the Zanu (PF) line of answering questions, Komichi said.

Komichi told SW Radio Africa that Chief Charumbiras actions were a direct attempt to destabilise and create confusion in the outreach process. He said his motive could best be described as seeking to undermine and scuttle a process that is expected to bring back sanity and democracy for Zimbabweans. ?

The two MDC-T and its offshoot MDC-M have differed sharply with Zanu (PF) over the new constitution with Mugabes party insisting that the charter must be based on the controversial Kariba draft constitution. Militant youths from Mugabes party, war veterans and members of the security forces have been campaigning for the adoption of the controversial Kariba draft constitution as the basis of the proposed new charter and are allegedly instructing villagers to tailor their contributions during outreach meetings to reflect provisions of the controversial draft.

The draft was secretly authored in 2007 by ZANU PF and the two former opposition MDC formations at Lake Kariba. But critics say the Kariba document should be discarded because it leaves untouched the immense presidential powers that analysts say Mugabe has used to stifle opposition to his rule for the past three decades.

Heavily assaulted

Meanwhile the MDC has also reported that one of its ward officials from Manicaland province sustained serious injury after the local village head and two Zanu (PF) supporters attacked him. The party said Blessing Musarandega, who is secretary for Ward 20 in Mutare South constituency was heavily assaulted by the three for daring voice his opinion during a constitutional outreach meeting in the area.

Blessing Musarandega was assaulted after giving his opinion during a Constitution-making outreach public meeting held on 29 June at Munyarari primary school, Tsvangirais party said in a statement. The party named Musarandegas assailants as headman Daniel Toopera and Zanu (PF) activist brothers Batsirai and Daniel Makomboti.

Musarandega is said to have incurred the wrath of the three when he rose to contribute during the meeting when he was not on a list allegedly drafted by Toopera of people who were suppose to speak during the meeting. Zanu (PF) has appointed its activists to speak on behalf of villagers during the constitutional outreach exercise in a crude attempt to ensure that the only partys position is heard. The MDC said the assailants were reported to the police but no arrests have yet been made.