Constitution Outreach: News Round-Up, 13 August – 19 August 2010

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13 August 2010 – cont

SMS news message throws Manicaland CIO into panic

Members of the Central Intelligence Organization who were terrorizing villagers in Manicaland Province have removed registration numbers from their cars, after an SW Radio Africa SMS news alert on the 6th August. The SMS exposed the names of officers involved in the violence and gave the registration numbers of the cars used. The alert exposed the use of a white Nissan double cab ABM0196 used by a CIO officer identified as Shingi, ABM0155 used by the Officer in Charge of Chipinge CID known as Chizemo and another similar truck ABM0203, used by a CIO known as Matake. On Friday Makoni South legislator Pishai Muchauraya told Newsreel; ‘After that exposure by SW Radio Africa the CIO’s involved in that violence removed the number plates of the cars operating in Chipinge. They also confronted some of our members, including some drivers, asking us why we are putting them on the internet including their registrations numbers and names.’ The identified CIO officers were moving from village to village ahead of constitutional outreach meetings and terrorizing known MDC supporters. The campaign is part of moves by ZANU PF to silence any opposition to a draft constitution supported by Mugabe’s regime. The CIO’s named were particularly active in the Chipinge, Chipinge South and Musikavanhu constituencies [Via SW Radio Africa].

Copac demands cash control

THE Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) has demanded to handle cash for its operations, saying the current system where donors and the government pay directly to service providers was slowing the crafting of a new governance charter. A critical outreach process to record citizens’ opinions on what they want included in the new constitution ground to a halt on Wednesday because there was no money to buy fuel for the exercise. Copac co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora (above) said the programme would resume soon. Outreach teams countrywide were left stranded after suppliers refused to release fuel because of non-payment for 60 000 litres of the product which had been supplied on credit. “The funding arrangement by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) must change from direct payment to advance payment such that Copac handles the cash,” said Mwonzora. “Copac can account for the money and we can also have auditors. That can greatly improve the situation.” [Via The Zimbabwe Independent].

14 August 2010

Villagers’ assault causes abandonment of COPAC meeting

A Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) outreach meeting was on Saturday 14 August, 2010 abandoned in Chipinge, Manicaland Province after some ZANU PF youths assaulted two villagers prior to commencement of the meeting. The COPAC meeting was scheduled to be held at Checheche Primary School The villagers Charles Chovi and Charles Chunje were assaulted by some ZANU PF youths at Checheche Primary School, who were led by Tonderai Ngwendu and Gilbert Kombo, who used benches, boots and clenched fists. The two villagers were accused of sitting on some benches which had been set up before the arrival of the COPAC team members for a meeting to solicit people’s input into a proposed draft constitution. ZZZICOMP monitors who witnessed the incident reported that Chovi and Chunje sustained some injuries on their bodies and on the ear and sought medical attention at St Peters Hospital. The COPAC meeting was called off after some villagers protested that the meeting could not proceed as some of them had been assaulted and intimidated before the arrival of the COPAC team members. Ngwendu and Kombo were fined by the police at Chisumbanje Police Station, who also asked Chovi and Chunje to pay an admission of guilty fine for engaging in public fighting. Honourable David Chimhini confirmed the assault and the abandonment of the meeting. He said it was evident that some villagers had been intimidated before the arrival of the COPAC team and his team had to postpone the meeting to a date to be advised as tension was high at the meeting [ZZZICOMP Press Release].

15 August 2010

Copac to reach out to prisons

THE Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) outreach teams will be deployed to the country’s prisons to allow prisoners the opportunity to have their input into the constitution-making process that is currently under way, an official has confirmed. In an interview with the Sunday News last Friday, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, one of the co-chairpersons of Copac, said outreach teams would soon be deployed to the country’s prisons to gather the views of the prisoners. His comments, put to rest speculation and a mist of conjecture and controversy that has been shrouding the subject with some experts saying prisoners were not supposed to be consulted as they are not going to vote in the referendum. Mr Mwonzora said it was the constitutional right of every citizen of the country, prisoners included, to input into the making of the supreme law that would govern them after serving their correctional sentences. “The making of a constitution is a right of every citizen. A prisoner is a citizen in a distinct situation and by virtue of them being citizens they are going to be accorded the opportunity to input into the new constitution. They of course may not be accorded other rights but on that one they have every reason to participate. “We will therefore be making efforts to ensure that they are reached out in their respective prisons all over the country and have their views gathered like anyone else,” he said [Via The Sunday News - state-controlled media].

Matabeleland South communities praised

Political parties in Matabeleland South region have hailed communities in the province for displaying a high level of maturity during the ongoing constitution-making process. In separate interviews, the chairpersons of Zanu-PF and MDC echoed the same sentiments although they said there were challenges that needed to be addressed before the programme started. Speaking in a telephone interview from Filabusi on Monday last week, Comrade Andrew Langa, who is the chairperson for Zanu-PF Mat South province, said people from his region revealed that they are masters of their own destiny by contributing meaningfully during the ongoing outreach programme conducted by the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC). “We have been to Esigodini, Insiza and Gwanda, I tell you people were airing their constitutional views without fear or favour, a development which shows that our people have come of age and have really shown political maturity [...] MDC chairperson for Mat South, Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu, said he was not part of the outreach teams but had observed the process. “I am not part of the teams doing the outreach programme but as a chairperson, there are a few things that have come to my attention. “The people of Matabeleland South are freely contributing to the constitution-making process, however, of concern to us as people of this region is the turnout which is disappointing. “People are coming in smaller numbers and I think we should have done enough civic education because if we say the programme is people driven yet the ordinary people cannot ‘drive the constitution vehicle’ we will not get the intended results,” he said [Via The Sunday News - state-controlled media]

16 August 2010

Villagers devise whistling scheme to combat war vets

Fearful villagers in Chipinge and Nyanga have devised a whistle strategy to combat increasing attacks from ZANU PF thugs and war vets, as the police standby, refusing to come to their aid. Douglas Mwonzora, the national co-chairperson of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee in Zimbabwe (COPAC), said on Monday that locals were fed up of being harassed at outreach meetings and have resorted to citizen action. “Local people have now devised this strategy of whistling, so that they mobilize each other in the event of an unlawful attack. This is because the attacks are being done by very few people who do not have the local support. There is strength in numbers,” he said. According to Mwonzora the plan is that: “Once a person is attacked or an attack is imminent, they whistle, those who hear the whistle also whistle while advancing towards the location of the first whistle, so there will be a lot of whistling. Firstly it puts off the attacker and confuses the attacker. It then mobilizes people towards the person being attacked,” he explained. On arrival at the scene of violence locals hold down the attackers and also take note of who they are. Then they are taken to a police station and the hope is that the police will actually do something [SW Radio Africa].

Umzingwane farmers attack Copac

Farmers in Umzingwane district have attacked the Parliamen-tary Constitution Select Committee and the Member of the House of Assembly for the constituency Nomalanga Khumalo for deliberately sidelining them and importing people from Bulawayo to the meetings. The farmers are accusing Khumalo for not informing people from her constituency about the impending Copac meetings, while Copac is said to have deliberately hidden information about the meetings. There were also concerns that people were bused in from Bulawayo to come and air views at the meetings, which were not attended by the local people. [...] The farmers said they wanted the Copac teams back in Umzingwane for the meetings [...] Copac teams in Matabeland have been accused of not doing their job properly amid reports that people were not advised about the meetings [Via The Herald - state-controlled media].

17 August 2010

Zimbabwe Constitution-Making Committee Condemns Constitution-Related Violence

The Zimbabwean parliamentary select committee overseeing revision of the country’s constitution Tuesday condemned violence related to the public outreach phase of the process, saying those instigating or perpetrating violence were going against the June call by the three unity government principals for a tolerant and peaceful exercise. In Zvishavane district, Midlands province, the outreach process was delayed by an hour on Tuesday after rapporteurs threatened to go on strike over delays in their payments. Midlands outreach team leader Amos Chibaya, a legislator of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri the delay was caused by a hitch at the United Nations Development Program, a main donor. Elsewhere, a civil society observer team visiting the Murehwa North constituency in Mashonaland East province and attending two outreach meetings concluded that the public comment process was not free of coercion, Center for Community Development in Zimbabwe Coordinator Philip Pasirayi told Jonga Kandemiiri. Elsewhere, the Tsvangirai MDC has accused district administrators of deliberately causing confusion in Hurungwe district, Mashonaland West, by changing outreach dates and venues at the last minute. The MDC said residents in Wards 4 and 6 in Chikwangwe Township, Ward 10 in Chiedza Township and Ward 8 in Karoi Urban, were unable to participate in outreach meetings as the area district administrator changed venues and times overnight. MDC National Council member Biggie Haurovi said residents were worried because the outreach meetings have since moved on to other districts like Chegutu without their having had an opportunity to contribute [Via VOA News].

Wave of new violence erupts in Chimanimani district

A new wave of violence erupted in Chimanimani district on Sunday when some ZANU PF militias armed with machetes, sticks and stones attacked MDC activists at Bvumbura village. Gun shots were also heard in the area but reports suggest there were warning shots fired into the air by the militias to frighten some of the villagers from confronting them. [...] when the home-owners tried to drive the militias away from the area shots were allegedly fired into the air to scare them. But this decision by the home owners to try and confront the militias led to the feared CIO visiting the village Monday, where they led away some MDC activists at gun point. ‘The CIO’s were in the company of ZANU PF provincial member Janet Knight when they force marched our activists into their vehicles. They were first taken to an isolated location where they beaten up badly with logs before they were dumped at the Cashel Valley police station,’ Muchauraya said. Muchauraya identified their supporters being held behind bars as Joseph and Tinashe Chikware, Stanley, David and Wilson Kuretu. The other two are John Jiyamwa and Matibiri Nyando. Access to the group has been denied by the police who say they have nothing to do with the ‘prisoners’ because they did not arrest them. ‘There’ve been attempts by our people to visit the group but access has been denied possibly from instructions from the CIO. We’ve also failed to deliver food to them, so it’s a worry really that victims of a political crime are being treated like criminals,’ Muchauraya said. It is believed the seven were targeted for being too vocal at a constitution-making outreach meeting held in the area last week and the MDC have fingered several senior ZANU PF members for sponsoring violence in the restive province. Politburo member and Minister, Didymus Mutasa, is reportedly spearheading the violence campaign in Makoni district, while Central Committee member, Enock Porusingazi, is causing mayhem in Chipinge south. Hubert Nyanhongo, ZANU PF MP for Harare south, who is reportedly eyeing the Nyanga seat, is leading a team of war vets on a path of destruction in the eastern highlands district. A woman police inspector, identified as Florence Marume, is making life difficult for MDC supporters in Mutare, while Major Svosve of the army is running riot in Buhera [Via SW Radio Africa].

Copac Launches Website

In a move that could further possibilities of greater citizen participation in the constitution making process, the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) today, 17 August 2010 launched its long awaited website www.copac.org.zw at the Jameson Hotel, Harare. The website was officially launched by the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Honorable Eric Matinenga who encouraged all Zimbabweans to visit the site and participate in the process. According to Hon. Matinenga, the website provides a platform for Zimbabweans including those living abroad to contribute to the constitution making process and actively interact with COPAC [Via SW Radio Africa].

The Death Penalty, National Security and the Zimbabwe Constitution

Opinion – Lloyd Msipa: However, I believe the most important reason for keeping the death penalty in our statute books relates to matters of national security. Zimbabwe is a country coming out of a revolution. The land reform exercise that began in earnest in the year 2000 left a lot of people disgruntled such that high treason against an elected government can not be ruled out. The Constitutional Amendment Act No. 17 of 2005 empowered the government of Zimbabwe to seize or expropriate farmland without compensation and bars courts from adjudicating over legal challenges filed by dispossessed and aggrieved white farmers. [...] The practical implications of the Constitutional Amendment Act No. 17 resulted in farm seizures, where the majority of the approximately 5000 white farmers were forcibly ejected from their properties with no compensation being paid for the land, since, according to the Zimbabwe Government; it was stolen in the first place. The dispossessed white farmers could resort to armed conflict and the fear of that happening is a reality. The realisation that the SADC tribunal or any other Court has no jurisdiction over Zimbabwe without the consent of the Parliament of Zimbabwe is slowly sinking in. High treason in Zimbabwe is not something new and we can not expose ourselves by legislating against our interests [Lloyd Msipa Via jdspura.com]

Pressure mounts on Mugabe to finally act

President Robert Mugabe has been given 30 days to deal with outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) threatening to scuttle the continued existence of the delicate government of national unity. At a summit in Windhoek, Namibia, yesterday, Sadc came hard on Zimbabwe’s leaders including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai ordering them to resolve the contentious issues and craft a roadmap that would lead to a free and fair election [...] The sticking issues include President Mugabe’s refusal to swear in MDC-T national treasurer Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, unilateral appointments of Gideon Gono as Reserve Bank governor and Johannes Tomana as Attorney General, provincial governors, overlapping ministerial mandates, removal of targeted economic sanctions and “pirate” radio stations. Although the regional bloc did not give a time frame for the holding of fresh polls, President Mugabe and his archrival Tsvangirai are already campaigning for elections while Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara seems reluctant [...] The road-map encompasses the crafting of a new constitution, undertaking a national healing exercise, creating an environment where Zimbabweans are able to engage in political activity freely, ensuring the rule of law is strictly observed, ensuring state institutions do not become partisan and that parties do not brook external interference in the country’s affairs. The parties also committed themselves to working together to restore Zimbabwe’s relations with the rest of the world, to ensure a thorough land audit was carried out and that the economy was stabilised [Via NewsDay].

Troika wants Zim polls next year

The SADC special organ on defence and security has recommended fresh elections next year to end Zimbabwe’s drawn-out political crisis, ZimOnline was told last night [...] The Troika, tasked by regional leaders to tackle the Zimbabwe crisis, met on Sunday ahead of the SADC summit that opened on Monday. “President Jacob Zuma presented a brilliant report which indicate on the status of talks and when the elections will be held. If all goes well the elections will be held next year,” said the source, who spoke on condition he was not named because he did not have authorisation to speak to the Press on the matter. “(The) Troika is of the opinion that a credible election in Zimbabwe would also guarantee peace in the region,” the Zimbabwe official said [...] But analysts say next year is too early for elections in a country where the voters’ roll remains chaotic and inaccurate while an exercise to write a new constitution that should ensure a free and fair vote has been delayed by several months and even then continues to progress at a snail’s pace [Via ZimOnline].

Villagers call for strict TV, movie censorship

People attending a Copac outreach meeting in Mashonaland East in Murehwa have demanded strict censorship of television programmes and movies to discourage homosexuality and loose moral behavior. The contributions came out during a constitution-making outreach meeting held at Pakati Secondary School, in one of the remotest areas of Murehwa, which is an MDC-T stronghold. [...] “Films on television should be censored because some of them are not good for the youths and the people of Zimbabwe. Some of these films are pornographic and promote certain western cultures like homosexuality,” said one old man. “We want the constitution to demand that women should dress appropriately,” said a female contributor although she did not suggest how women should dress [Via NewsDay].

Outreach shows need for civic education

Constitutional outreach meetings in rural Zimbabwe have revealed a gaping need for civic education before people can air their views on the new constitution. A recent survey carried out by NewsDay in rural Murehwa at Ward 14 showed that although people were aware that Zimbabwe was in the process of crafting a new constitution, most of those interviewed did not really understand issues to be enshrined in the new constitution. Asked what the words “Constitution”, or “Bumbiro remitemo” meant, most of the young people professed ignorance while the elderly were quite aware of definitions and what was happening [...] At Chigwada Shopping Centre, a few kilometres from Pakati Secondary School, four youths interviewed could not define what a constitution is. The youths were also surprised and were not aware there was a constitution-making meeting at the school, although they said they were aware that people from Copac would visit their area [...] A constitutional lawyer, Greg Linington, stressed the need for civic education before people are asked to air their views on a new constitution. “A lot of people are still unsure of what should be discussed when making a constitution. They still need to be educated on what a constitution is. There is a lot of confusion on that issue,” said Linington [Via NewsDay].

Jabulani Sibanda returns to Bikita

Self-styled war veteran, Jabulani Sibanda who last week led to the cancellation of Copac meetings in Masvingo province has returned to Bikita and continues to harass and intimidate villagers. On Monday he was at Nyika growth point in Bikita West where he forced villagers to attend a Zanu PF rally [Via MDC Today - 17 Aug 2010].

Rylander wraps up Zim tour of duty

Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sten Rylander (SR) was a man of few words when he took up his post in the country about five years ago. [...] Rylander, once an ambassador in Tanzania before he became a roving diplomat in Africa, is set to leave Zimbabwe tomorrow. [Extract from Interview with Sten Rylander]: BM:Your general comments on what can be done to spruce up Zimbabwe’s image in the eyes of the international community. SR: I have four suggestions: to see to it that the ongoing constitution-making process will be carried out in an open, transparent and democratic way and be taken to a good and positive conclusion before the next elections; to push through electoral reforms and to pave the way for good, solid, democratic and credible elections; to go for national healing and reconciliation also involving transitional justice; and finally to arrange for good and orderly leadership change when that time comes [Via NewsDay]

18 August 2010

Threats escalate, abuse worse

MUTARE – Civil society organisations here have warned of worsening human rights abuse at the hands of state security agents, explaining that there has been an escalation in the number of threats, intimidation and harassment against people perceived to be against the Kariba Draft in the on-going constitution outreach programmes. The concerns were raised by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights). ZimRights told The Zimbabwean this week that MDC supporters in Mutare had received a series of verbal threats from secret agents, warning them against contributing views against Zanu (PF) in the constitutional outreach programmes. Last week, some facilitators belonging to Zimbabwe Peace Project were arrested for allegedly holding meetings in the rural areas within the periphery of Mutare city. Moses Daka of ZLHR said: “We call upon the responsible authorities, including the Ministry of Defense, to penalize these elements without fear or favour,” added Daka. Human rights group Amnesty International this week expressed its concerns about worsening human rights abuses in Manicaland and other parts of the country during the ongoing outreach exercise [Via The Zimbabwean].

Zimbabwe Farm Workers Union Says Intimidation Rampant in Rural Consultations

The General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe has voiced concern at what it says are high levels of intimidation and harassment in constitutional outreach meetings in Mashonaland farming areas. GAPWUZ spokesman Tapiwa Zivira said farm workers, especially those from Mashonaland Central and West, have been forced to voice certain positions and are being silenced on issues having related to land. Zivira told VOA reporter Patience Rusere that GAPWUZ farm workers are particularly vulnerable because there are many war veterans in rural areas due to their involvement in the farm takeovers of the past decade [Via VOA News].

Zanu PF reignites terror campaign in Mutoko and Mudzi

In Mashonaland East province, villagers in Mutoko and Mudzi districts are living in fear after Zanu PF re-ignited their terror campaign, intimidating villagers ahead of the constitution consultations expected to begin this week in their areas. Reports from Mutoko east have revealed that Zanu PF, through the village heads is instructing every villager to renounce their MDC membership and to join Zanu PF or else the return of the 2008 genocide will not be far from reality. In most villages in Mutoko East, the Zanu PF district leadership, with the use of the militia instructed every household to meet in the different wards were Zanu PF Party positions are being enforced on the people. In ward 18 of Mutoko east, the Zanu PF district chairperson Ingidzai Kapondoro, with the help of village heads, Kenneth Chimoyo and another Kapondoro, have instructed MDC supporters to surrender to Zanu PF or else they will be beheaded [Via MDC Today - 18 August 2010]

7 abducted MDC still detained in jail

A group of 7 MDC activists, who were abducted at gunpoint by Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives in Manicaland on Monday, are still being held at Cashel Valley police station. No-one has been allowed to visit them but a source within the police department, who chose to remain anonymous, said the group had been assaulted. Party and family members attempting to bring food and water have been turned away since Monday. MDC-T provincial spokesperson, Pishai Muchauraya, told SW Radio Africa that the seven were due to appear in court on Wednesday. But police officers at Cashel Valley said that they were not aware of what the charges are and would therefore wait for further instructions from the CIO division or senior police officials [...] Muchauraya said he believes the group was targeted because they had been outspoken at Constitutional outreach meetings, and were also very effective organizers of MDC activities and strong mobilisers of people in the area. The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), one of the civic groups that is shadowing the outreach process in every province, has reported an increase in human rights violations, rape and intimidation in Mashonaland and Manicaland provinces. They also confirmed that the perpetrators are war vets, ZANU PF youths, the police, soldiers and CIO operatives [Via SW Radio Africa].

SADC should send observers

SADC should have deployed observers to monitor the gathering of people’s views by outreach teams of the parliamentary committee for the constitution making (COPAC), villagers here have announced. “At a recent outreach meeting held at Madamombe School, only selected Zanu (PF) representatives contributed towards the supreme law making,” said a villager who chose to be identified as Miriam, at Murewa Centre. He said villagers lost faith in the constitution making and hoped people in urban areas would make a difference. “Given previous Zanu (PF) terror campaigns, we thought SADC would take preventive measures to ensure the constitution making process runs freely without violence. What we witnessed was a joke of a constitution crafting exercise. No level headed people should take the exercise seriously. SADC has let Zimbabwe down again,” said another disappointed villager [Via The Zimbabwean].

2 MDC officials arrested as police hunt more MDC Masvingo

Police in Masvingo central are reported to be hunting down MDC officials after an incident related to the constitutional outreach on Monday. Two MDC officials are in custody and police are reported to be hunting down five more, who they claim were involved in the same incident. But MDC officials in Masvingo told SW Radio Africa that the whole incident has been fabricated in order to block them from mobilizing their supporters ahead of the constitutional outreach meetings in the area. MDC-T provincial secretary Tongai Matutu said that the current tension started on Monday when a group of ZANU PF members reported to the police that MDC members had disrupted their meeting. They claimed that the MDC MP for Masvingo Urban, Tachiona Chiminya, had threatened them with a pistol during the incident. Chiminya was arrested for possession of an illegal firearm, but was released late on Tuesday night when the accusers failed to pick him out in an identity parade. No pistol was ever found. On Wednesday morning Masvingo police arrested the Masvingo Ward 4 councilor, Daniel Muchuchutu, and the director of elections, Muranganwa Chanyahwa, in connection with the same incident. They are reported to be searching for five other MDC members who they claim were present at the original incident on Monday. Matutu said it appears that all known MDC activists in the area were being targeted. He believes the idea is to compromise the constitutional outreach programme by silencing MDC supporters. Matutu pleaded with all Zimbabweans to be vigilant and to resist ZANU PF efforts to hijack the people’s constitution [Via SW Radio Africa].

MDC-T ‘happy’ with outcome of SADC Troika meeting

The SADC Troika meeting on Zimbabwe – held in Windhoek, Namibia on Sunday – has been described by MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti as a ‘milestone.’ He told journalists in Harare that the meeting ‘went as well as they had hoped.’ At the SADC meeting South African President Jacob Zuma’s report and recommendations were adopted by the Troika Organ on Defence, Security and Politics. [...] ‘In broad terms, parties to the GPA accepted that an exit strategy should be based on the completion of the Constitution-making exercise, having a referendum and finally holding an election. Parties to the GPA, assisted by the Troika, will discuss the outstanding matters within one month as part of a confidence-building measure,’ Biti said. [Via SW Radio Africa]

Copac targets youths, special groups

The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee will soon convene targeted outreach meetings for youths and people with special needs following low turnout by the two groups in the ongoing constitution-making process. Copac co-chairperson Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said this yesterday at a Press briefing and launch of the body’s website. “There are two areas of concern to us and that is the participation of youths and people with special needs. We have engaged Unicef and organisations representing the youths so that we arrange special outreach meetings for them. “We are also making arrangements to visit people with special needs in institutions they are housed to gather their views,” he said. People with special needs include the mentally challenged, blind, deaf and those with physical disabilities [Via The Herald - state-controlled media].

19 August 2010

Prayers used to intimidate teams

Enterprising political violence masterminds have outwitted their victims and law enforcement agents by effectively substituting tools of their trade with — of all things — incantations. On Tuesday, a constitutional outreach meeting at St Clare’s Anglican Mission in Murehwa, Mashonaland East, was shocked and terrified when a woman stood up, ostensibly to give an opening prayer for the meeting, only to launch a vicious tirade at her party’s opponents, threatening them and Copac officials with death. “Mbuya Nehanda naSekuru Kaguvi mapfupa enyu achamuka (The bones of Nehanda and Kaguvi shall rise),” the young woman prayed. “Mukanyora zvisirizvo zvatataura muchamedzwa nevhu (If you write things that we have not said here you shall return to dust).Vakasaendesa zvatataura vaurayeyi (If they do not accurately reflect our views, kill them).” Stunned by the tone the so-called prayer had taken, the Copac team asked the woman to stop. They asked a priest who was present to pray – but it was too late. The people had been stunned into silence. Although everyone expected the priest to lead the prayer, the young woman, a known political activist, quickly volunteered to deliver the prayer which she dedicated, not to God, but to Zimbabwe’s Chimurenga war heroes. Members of Copac said in interviews after the incident that it was not the first time they had come across such happenings [Via NewsDay].

Five abducted activists released; two remain in custody

Five of the seven MDC activists who were abducted at gunpoint by State security agents in Chimanimani East, Manicaland province on Monday have been released from Cashel Valley police station after paying a US$10 fine each. The five activists; Joseph and Tinashe Chikwari, Stanley, David and Wilson Kuretu were charged with the ridiculous crime of “disturbing peace” after making contributions at a Copac meeting held in the area. Meanwhile, the other two activists, John Jiyamwa and Matibiri Nyando are still in police custody at Cashel Valley police station. They are being denied access to food, legal services and medication [Via MDC Today - 19 August 2010]

Veritas: Devolution Part I

Veritas circulate discussion devolution: Devolution of power to the provinces [provincialisation] has been debated at some length in the press recently, and the constitutional outreach programme has revealed how strongly people feel about the issue. In Matabeleland, for example, there will probably be little support for a new constitution, whatever its merits, if it does not confer a considerable measure of autonomy upon the western provinces. And this feeling is not confined to Matabeleland: the further one gets from Harare, it seems, the stronger is the desire for autonomy. The desire is easy to understand in the light of the country’s history. Zimbabwe has always been a centralised state and its governments, both before and after Independence, have tended to be authoritarian. The present Constitution gives barely a nod to the provinces: section 111A allows governors to be appointed for “any areas” [though only provincial governors have been appointed] but these governors are appointees of the central government and their main function is to enforce the ruling party’s control over the provinces. Local authorities are mentioned hardly at all in the Constitution. The demand for devolution is probably a reaction to the over-centralisation of the past and the excesses resulting from it. The new constitution must go some way towards meeting this demand if it is to be acceptable to the majority of Zimbabweans. But how far should it go? What are the advantages and drawbacks of devolution and, particularly, of provincialisation? What are the problems that are likely to be encountered if power is devolved to the provinces? [Via Veritas]

Rape: An issue for Copac

Opinion: With constitution-making underway, The Arena brings to the fore some issues regarding sexual and reproductive rights. The Arena wonders whether the rape or sexual molestation culture, which seems to be increasing on a daily basis, is being adequately addressed to warrant inclusion in the new constitution. If some people are clamouring for rights of gays and lesbians in the new constitution, how about issues like rape? After the passage of the constitution, are we likely to see a change in the way rape issues are handled by society and the law especially? [...] This writer has noted that rape or sexual assault is one of those issues that make big breaking news, but never seems to get anywhere or go away. [...] So, with the constitution-making process underway, The Arena reiterates Lee Madigan and Nancy Gamble’s view in their book, “The Second Rape: Society’s Continued Betrayal of the Victim”. They write, “Men and women everywhere need to view rape as a political issue. For the most part, the experience of seeking justice is a form of political punishment designed to keep women in their place, ashamed of their sexuality and afraid to be themselves.” [Via The Herald - state-controlled media].

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