Zanu PF supporters on Monday disrupted a Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) meeting at Kaziro Business Centre, Madziva in Shamva North, Mashonaland Central province.
During the commotion, the MDC Women Assemblys chairperson for the province, Martha Muronzi was assaulted by the rowdy Zanu PF youths.The Zanu PF youths were complaining that Muronzi had submitted a written proposal during the meeting and yet the Copac team had not told them they could also do the same. The Zanu PF youths also said that they should be the only ones who should be allowed to make contributions during the meeting. They took my written submission from the Copac team and tore it saying the MDC people are not allowed to write or say anything, Muronzi said. The Zanu PF youths then turned rowdy forcing the Copac team to cancel the meeting. The youths were being led by Saineti Manyika, a village head. Muronzi has reported the case at Madziva police station.
Elsewhere, three MDC activists in Seke district, Mashonaland East were on Monday arrested on trumped-up charges of burning a house belonging to an unnamed Zanu PF supporter. The three Joseph Nyandoro, 70, Jacob Chivaura, 61, Mwarianesu Mutandwa, 63, who had contributed immensely during a Copac meeting held at Mupfuri Primary School in Ward 17 were apprehended soon after the meeting. They are still detained at Beatrice Police Station. One Brigadier Chanakira who is in Team 5 of the Copac team in Mashonaland East took the three to Beatrice police station.
In Robert Sinyoka village, Pumula South, Bulawayo, Edith Ncube Mafu, an MDC ward chairperson has gone into hiding after Zanu PF supporters visited her home last week and threatened her with unspecified action if she continued to mobilise people to attend the Constitution-making outreach meetings in the area. Five men driving a marked Zanu PF vehicle came to Mafus residence last week and ordered her to stop forthwith from mobilising people in the area to attend Copac meetings. Meanwhile, in Mhuke and Virimayi villages in Zaka West, Masvingo province, Zanu PF youths led by one Faustinos Murambatsvina are harassing, intimidating villagers and threatening that they will set-up torture bases in the area if the villagers speak at the Constitution-making meetings.