Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF Pledges Nonviolent Constitutional Process, Amid Skepticism
Despite the ZANU-PF pledge, new reports of political violence and intimidation continued to filter in from troubled provinces
ZANU-PF said it is committed to implementing the Global Political Agreement for power sharing by supporting efforts by the parliamentary select committee on constitutional revision to collect public feedback on the new document The ZANU-PF party of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has declared that it will not tolerate violence or intimidation in the ongoing public outreach phase of the country's constitutional revision process, urging its members in a public statement to behave in an orderly and peaceful manner. ZANU-PF said it is committed to implementing Article VI of the 2008 Global Political Agreement for power sharing in Harare by supporting efforts by the parliamentary select committee on constitutional revision to collect public feedback on what should be in the country’s new constitution. But the former ruling party took a swipe at non-governmental organizations such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network, the Zimbabwe Peace Project and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, accusing them of trying to tarnish the party’s image with false allegations of violence and intimidation by ZANU-PF supporters. ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo could not be reached for comment on the statement. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Programs Manager Pedzisai Ruhanya told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that ZANU-PF is pleased with the constitutional process because it is tilted in its favor. Bhekilizwe Ndlovu of the Union for Sustainable Democracy told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that ZANU-PF’s call for peace is welcome, but he questioned whether the party was sincere in its call for tolerance. Meanwhile, Manicaland provincial spokesman Pishai Muchauraya of the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said two party members were abducted Sunday at the Madanga business center in Ward 36 of the Mutare South constituency in Manicaland province. Muchauraya said Lovemore and Passmore Nyamana were abducted by two armed men in dark glasses after they spoke out against liberation war veterans and on land reform in a public outreach meeting. VOA Studio 7 correspondent Thomas Chiripasi reported from Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central province, that MDC members and supporters there said violence has surged as outreach meetings have been organized.