By Lance Guma
20 November 2009
The MDC has accused ZANU PF of mobilizing its militia to re-open torture
bases countrywide, to intimidate the electorate into accepting the
controversial Kariba Draft constitution. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s
party says it has unearthed evidence that meetings are being convened to
revive terror squads to harass, intimidate and torture people to endorse the
draft constitutional document, which leaves sweeping presidential powers
largely intact.
A Parliamentary Select Committee is supposed to be leading the constitution
making process to ensure that Zimbabweans have a say in any new
constitution. The co-chairperson of the committee, Douglas Mwonzora, told SW
Radio Africa that their outreach teams would begin their work around the
country on 29th November.
With these public hearings now imminent, ZANU PF is reportedly beginning the
deployment of ‘terror squads’, to force people to accept the Kariba Draft.
Meetings to discuss these deployments are already taking place. At Chief
Nhema’s homestead in Zaka North, Masvingo, ZANU PF official Shenu Jeya
openly told villagers that all militia bases set up last year during the
violent presidential run-off had to be re-opened. Another meeting in Murehwa
at Zihute Hall saw one district chairman, known as Siwela, telling the
gathering that ‘if they heard their neighbours screaming at night, they
should remain indoors.’ He also warned that ZANU PF youths were monitoring
the movements of everyone in the area.
In the mining town of Bindura, where Tsvangirai began his career as a mine
foreman, 43 war veterans called for a meeting at Killstone Farm. The meeting
was chaired by a retired army colonel known as Siya, who said it was
impossible to convince the electorate to vote for the Kariba Draft and as a
result it was necessary to use violence. The MDC say similar meetings are
being held in all the country’s 10 provinces.
The party has also expressed concern at the way victims of last years
election violence are being forced to surrender blankets, tents and other
kitchen utensils donated to them by aid organisations. At the end of October
Nyepanai Chimusakati was forced into surrendering his building materials, to
Roy Chihota Jenami, an aide to Chief Mutasa. Chimusakati, whose home was
burnt down in June 2008, had 6 asbestos sheets, 2 window frames, 1 door
frame and 6 bags of cement forcibly taken from him.
Meanwhile ZANU PF has postponed its December congress, following reports
they were struggling to raise money to sponsor the delegates to go to
Harare. Sources say in the past the money came from the Reserve Bank, under
Gideon Gono’s ‘quasi-fiscal’ activities, but with the dollarisation of the
economy and the MDC running the Finance Ministry, such siphoning-off of
resources is now much more difficult.
SW Radio Africa
Dave, confirm this picture is the one from the days when Botswana was said to be deploying troops along the Zim Border. What is it doing on this story?
Anyhow, I thought MDC-T had the upper hand here according to regular cheerleaders on this site. So what has happened with Milittia being deployed in the rural areas. We have often told people that Zim is not ready for anything like an election or referendum because Zanu pf war machinery is still in place and people will just get smacked and will avoid putting their lives in danger by going along what the junta says. Most of the people who exhibit bravado here are not aware of how it works out in the rural areas there since they are comfortably behind their computer screens. We are accused of supporting the Junta when we tell people these bare facts. Zanu is prepared to go to war or cause a civil war. There is no way they will go quietly. which is why I say all these elections must be put on hold and hopefully in good time zpf will self destruct when the old man meets his maker.This story shows that any election held now will be a replica of June 2008. Are people prepared to stomach that?
Abel, I will check the source…(ED)
CONFIRMED PICTURE IS ……..
Ha-a vakomana shuwwa wena,… that was the same picture/thumbnail related to Khama’s Toy Scouts..!! It really does not take that much effort to chastiSe Z.A.N.U. P.F, none at all my brothers. It also should not take reckless desperation to articulate a successful opposition party, I am sure Prof John Moyo has highlighted that in the past. Come on guys he was an independEnt candidate,…MuZimbabwe…and WON…!!
I have never agreed with Abel, well, until this day. I always feel he is there to mock and harass the MDC but his last post is one of the best I have seen on these boards. I come from Buhera myself and I am well informed about the events there. Chinotimba and his ZANU war dogs are at it again and if elections were to be called in the next year there would be more blood shed than the previous election. Let’s face facts here; I sympathize more with the MDC than ZANU but as it stands ZANU still wields absolute power (and I know the meaning of absolute). We may wish to grandstand and say MDC now ‘occupy some of the space previously occupied by ZANU’ but the truth is when it comes to elections people will be beated and killed and the election will serve no purpose. The police will ‘arrest’ some people to ‘prove’ that they don’t ‘tolerate’ violence! The country is in a fix. Every sane person will know that if a free and fair election is held the MDC will beat ZANU all systems out, but then, every sane person will know that this will not happen in the foreseeable future. As Abel said ZANU is prepared to cause a civil war.
Thanks guys.chuckle!!!
Furthermore that picture was put on the khama story in error also. If you look carefull, that is a Rhodesian army truck. Someone was being mischivous and putting it on the Khama story to add juice to it.
Potipha thanks for confirming my worries about having an election in the next year.
Abel is right, very right.
INDEED!!!!!!
We all know that but here is where we differ.
You suggest we wait until Mugabe dies, because if we go now zanu will not go without a fight.
I say can we afford to let them destroy the country to that extent?? The education , health and justice systems are down on their knees because of them.
I say we fight, and start rebuilding. There is no way under the sun that zanu will win if they go to war against THE PEOPLE.
Baba Tee, Zimbabweans are mainly worried about bread and butter issues. Getting them to go to the streets and fight against the junta needs a leadership that is very inspiring and strategic. Now if I look at the current crop of leaders, I dont seem to see anyone who is worth dying for. Zanu milittia are prepared to serve Mugabe for a number of reasons, chief among them being they have a lot to loose if he were to go. He is their shield. Can MDC people say the same for Morgan? I wonder.
You answered your own question there boy. No MDC pple cannot say the same for Morgan, because he has never corrupted nor bribed for them to feel the same.
Abel.
Again this is where you and I differ.
You go to war for Mugabe, and you assume I would go to war for Morgan. If I am going to war it is because I want my children to have a future in a democratic country. it is because I want to leave in peace. ME ME ME. not MDC.
And in case you forgot, the army is already divided half wont go to war for Mugabe, and they work for his government.
The mass will be doing it for them selves.
Which army are you referring to that wont go to war for Mugabe? Is that not the same army that went to Congo for a cause they did not know? When they are given instructions, they will simply obey them or suffer the consequences which we all know bhururu.Wishfull thinking once more. When we talk of an army we refer to the top guys who give instructions not those privates vatinonwa navo mascud and they will be telling us they wont fight for Gushungo.When its time, they will get a move on.