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Zimbabwe Constitution-Making Committee Condemns Constitution-Related Violence


A civil society observation team that visited Murehwa North constituency in Mashonaland East province and attended two outreach meetings concluded that the public comment process there was not free of coercion

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.

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