The MDC Today

In the run-up to the sham June 27 2008 presidential run-off elections, the police impounded President Morgan Tsvangirais campaign vehicle and two others belonging to the Matabeleland North province and the Youth Assembly.

I received a call from one Detective Inspector Chakaona this morning and he said I should report to Lupane police station urgently as he was investigating the issue of the impounding of our party vehicles in the run-up to the sham presidential run-off election, Hon. Komichi said.

The police claim Hon. Komichi made reference to the impounding of the vehicles at a rally held at Negasha stadium in Lupane in February this year where he allegedly said Veterai had confiscated these vehicles to further Zanu PF interests.

The three vehicles are at Lupane police station.

Meanwhile, two MDC activists and brothers, Lovemore and Passmore Nyamana, in Manicaland province were on Sunday abducted at gunpoint by Zanu PF supporters who were driving a white Mitsubishi truck at Madanga business centre in Mutare South and their whereabouts remain unknown.

According to Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Hon. Pishayi Muchauraya the two were abducted at the business centre in the late afternoon and the MDC is worried about their safety.

Lovemore is the MDC Ward 36 while his brother, Passmore is a committee member.

According to eyewitnesses, the two were abducted at gunpoint and they managed to identify one Major Mapuranga as one of the abductors. So far thats what we have, and they have been located, said Hon. Muchauraya.

In the same province, on Saturday, Stephen Musumbu, a villager, was dragged by self-styled war veterans away from the constitution consultation meeting at Murahwa School in Mutasa South after he had made a contribution during an outreach meeting.

Musumbu had spoken on the need for title deeds on land and this must have angered the so-called war veterans. The people who attended the meeting rescue him but the police who were present did not take any action, Hon. Muchauraya said.

In Hurungwe East, Mashonaland West province, seven MDC activists have been threatened with death by Zanu PF supporters if they attend any Constitution outreach meetings taking place in the area.

On Saturday, Zanu PF officials called for a meeting under the pretext of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac), where they addressed people and openly threatened seven MDC supporters saying they would kill them if they speak during the outreach meetings.

They mentioned that MDC supporters were not allowed to attend these meetings and also that if they did, they were not expected to contribute anything otherwise they would face the wrath, said MDC Hurungwe East vice chairperson, Erifas Chiparo.

The seven are Chiparo, Ward 21 organising secretary, Patrick Murira, the district director of elections, Rodney Matsaure, the director of elections Womens Assembly, Grace Mandipause, the vice organising secretary, Joe Mashiri and a youth activist Persly Zindonda.

In Masvingo province, reports from Mwenezi say that a Zimbabwe National Army major, only identified as Moyo, self styled war veteran Dube, Zanu PF thugs Regedzai Clemence and one Muzororo, are allegedly threatening villagers around Neshuro growth point in Mwenezi East if they participate in the Constitution-making process.

It is understood the Zanu PF thugs, working with State security agents, are working around the clock instilling fear into the villagers ahead of vists by the outreach teams.

People are being intimidated by Major Moyo and his group. They are based at Neshuro growth point and they usually address villagers on a daily basis. The level of intimidation has reached unprecedented levels. The people of Mwenezi are wary of the soldiers who are based at Neshuro growth point, said Joshua Chuma, an MDC member in Mwenezi.

At Jerera growth point in Zaka, uniformed soldiers wielding AK 47 assault rifles allegedly addressed villagers at the growth point last week and advised the villagers to abide by the Zanu PF position during the outreach meetings.

The MDC provincial chairperson of the womens assembly for Masvingo province, Farirai Ethel Mabugu, said women should take the initiative in mobilising the people to move towards real change.

We believe women can play an important role in the constitution making process and we believe women constitute the bulk of the Zimbabwean population. We therefore should have a say in promoting fundamental human rights through the new constitution. Gone are the days when we used to be cry babies. We have to stand up and be counted. We are therefore calling for peace as the outreach programme continues. We desire to see a people driven constitution being put in place, said Mrs Mabugu.

Mrs Mabugu said the provincial Womens Assembly had already lined up rigorous activities throughout the province.