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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Statement
on intimidation in Epworth
Union for Sustainable Democracy
May 26, 2010
Today, the Union for
Sustainable Democracy sent a high-level undercover delegation into
Epworth, a shanty town on the outskirts of Harare. We were dismayed
by repeated accounts of how Zanu PF thugs are threatening to mete
out violence on anyone who defies their formula for the constitution-making
process.
Epworth residents Tapiwa
Machipisa, Rumbidzai Kaseke, Philip Nyajeka, Simon Zhakata and Priscilla
Chakabva all spoke emotionally about how people in Epworth have
been ordered by Zanu PF thugs to report for political meetings against
their will.
The message, they told
us, has been a very simple one: 'Shut up and leave the task
of responding to questions to those who have been selected to do
so.'
In the unlikely event
of ordinary residents having to respond to questions, they told
us, they are to answer in a particular fashion. In particular they
have been instructed to emphatically state that the new constitution
must not put any limit on a president's term of office. Clearly,
the intention is to confirm Mugabe as president for life.
There will be more 'educative
meetings' chaired by loyal Zanu PF supporters to ensure that
people understand how the constitution-making process is to be handled.
Landlords have been instructed to keep watch on their tenants and
to either summarily evict anyone perceived to be sympathetic to
the MDC or refer their names to 'chairpersons' for handling.
Meanwhile, residents
have been given a month to acquire Zanu PF membership cards which,
like Identity Documents, they have been ordered to carry at all
times.
They have been warned
that election violence this time around will be much worse than
in 2008.
The Union for Sustainable
Democracy views this fresh wave of intimidation with alarm and condemns
it in the strongest possible terms. It is outrageous that thousands
of innocent people can be forced to live in fear simply in order
to guarantee the realisation of the unconstitutional and evil ambitions
of a handful of people.
We urge the unity government
to swiftly and decisively denounce this act of repression.
For more
information about the Union For Sustainable democracy visit http://www.usd.org.zw
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