Buhera in Manicaland province is the home district of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. MDC Manicaland provincial spokesman Pishayi Muchauraya told The Zimbabwean on Sunday that the soldiers led by one Major Svosve have set up camps at two business centres in the district at Masasa and Mutiusinazita from where they regularly go around surrounding areas ensuring villagers attend the Zanu (PF) meetings.
Muchauraya claimed the soldiers were working with officers from the governments dreaded spy Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) as well as war veterans and Zanu (PF) militia in the campaign to intimidate villagers to support the views of President Robert Mugabes party on the proposed new constitution.
The soldiers (and) CIOs are patrolling the areas, force-marching people to Zanu (PF) meetings, said Muchauraya. Efforts to get comment from both the army and Zanu (PF) were unsuccessful. But both have in the past denied charges that they are on a campaign to intimidate citizens especially in remote rural areas to support Zanu (PF)s views on the new governance charter.
The drafting of new constitution is part of reforms meant to entrench democracy in Zimbabwe. The coalition government is expected to call fresh elections once a new constitution is in place although there is no legal requirement for it to immediately do so. Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will guarantee human rights, strengthen the role of Parliament, as well as guaranteeing civil, political and media freedoms.
Post published in: Politics