Zanu PF responsible: Kasukuwere and Zhuwawo cause mayhem to scupper constitutional conference
Another report has come in from a member of civic society who attended the morning’s shambolic conference.
Early this morning, Zanu PF supporters were ushered into the lower level of the conference centre, leaving the less accessible upper floors for the MDC and civic organisations to crowd into.
Our witness reported that when Lovemore Moyo started his speech it was none other than Saviour Kasukuwere (see a profile on Kasukuwere here) along with another MP, who started the riotous singing that drowned out the Speaker’s address. ZimOnline have a report corroborating involvement of youths loyal to Kasukuwere and also to Patrick Zhuwawo, Robert Mugabe’s nephew.
In Shona they started singing Zanu PF songs and slogans which include inflammatory words like,
“We are doing what we did in June, winning”
“We are doing away with the Prime Minister”
“Zimbabwe is liberated with blood”
Minister Moyo’s attempts to calm the crowd resulted in him being showered with water, beer and alcohol.
Once the riot police finally arrived, they attempted to ascend to the upper floor, but were blocked entry by the MDC and the civics ensconced there. The police finally backed off , leading away only the most vocal of the Zanu spoilers.
Once the chaos had quieted the civics “snuck” away, but a few decided to brave the food queues. Their attempts were unsuccessful as the Zanu supporters were in the majority and not in any mood to share the free meal on offer.
The word is that even if the authorities do manage to reconvene, the civic delegates will not return to participate in the political mud-slinging match, which is bound to descend to further exchange of insults and possibly worse.
The person we spoke to said that some of the elderly who were there were in visible shock over the chaos that marred the start of the constitutional debate, and that a disabled member of a civic organisation who was there to attend spoke of how vulnerable she’d felt in the mayhem.
