Dont vote NO – Zanu

Views gathered from people were mainly Zanu (PF), as the majority of participants parroted rehearsed views of Mugabes party. These were clearly aimed at retaining power in hands of the minority which benefited from Zanu (PF) partisan politics under the former exclusive Mugabe government. The whole Copac exercise was a waste of resources, said Muzungu, who was a member of a Copac outreach team in Mashonaland East.

Throughout Mashonaland East and parts of Harare, Copac meetings were dominated by hired Zanu (PF) supporters, he said.

At a Copac meeting in Marlborough we dismissed a participant whom we had met in Murewa and Goromonzi. Several such incidents occurred at many meetings. Imagine independent views in cities such as Harare being outnumbered by Zanu (PF). From my observations on the ground, if the new constitution is adopted, the country will be governed by one of the worst laws on the planet.

Meanwhile, Zanu (PF) officials have vowed to punish people for voting NO in the referendum. MDC called for writing of a new constitution as part of its conditions for holding new elections. So, there was no way Tsvangirais party would campaign for a NO vote in the referendum expected next February. As Zanu (PF), we will not fold our hands while MDC wastes our time and national resources in a constitution process they know would be a non event. Violence would surely be meted out to anyone identified for voting NO in the referendum, said source in Zanu (PF) who requested anonymity.

The source said Mugabe had already predicted election victory judging by his partys triumph in the constitution-making exercise. Zanu (PF) therefore does not want to wait for the constitution-making dust to settle before elections are held.

MDC supporters were successfully scared by Zanu (PF) and state security agents from participating in the process. Zanu (PF) hopes to keep MDC supporters from polling stations in the coming elections, hence calls for early polls by Mugabe.

Mugabe disregarded most aspects of the GPA, only to respect the expiry of the SADC initiated interim administration. There is no way he can claim the GPA cannot be extended. The agreement was not cast in stone. Elections should be held only after a true people driven constitution is in place. If Mugabe insists elections should go ahead, people must stand up for their right to a new constitution and free and fair polls. Zanu (PF) is a minority party and should be treated like that. MDC must rise to any occasion decided by Mugabe and beat Zanu (PF) at its own game, said Muzungu.

He added that Mugabe would certainly to stick to his guns and forcibly hold elections in June next year, and violence would be his trump card.