News / National
Zanu-PF bars journalists, villagers from Bill hearings?
4 hrs ago |
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Allegations of exclusion and intimidation have emerged following a public hearing on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 held at Mvuma Vocational Training Centre, with critics accusing the ruling ZANU-PF of manipulating the process, The Mirror has reported.
Witnesses said access to the venue was tightly controlled, with journalists and many villagers reportedly barred from entering. The meeting was held in a small room that could only accommodate about 200 people, despite an estimated 600 attendees turning up.
Some attendees alleged that participants were vetted at the gate, with preference allegedly given to ruling party supporters, village heads and traditional leaders. There were also claims that supporters were instructed to signal allegiance before being allowed to speak.
Former Chirumanzu Rural District Council councillor Menias Mahlavira described the process as unfair, alleging that only selected individuals were allowed to participate.
"The venue was too small. About 500 people failed to give their views. Coached village heads and ruling party officials who slept inside the venue were given the chance to speak," he said.
Tensions reportedly escalated when a party activist allegedly threatened a journalist, ordering her to stop filming and warning that her camera could be damaged or confiscated.
Some villagers said they were denied entry despite arriving early. One resident, Esnath Kirimba, claimed she was labelled a "rotten egg" and turned away.
"It is my right to participate," she said, arguing that the process appeared to favour one political group.
Another attendee, Gilbert Shangwa, accused organisers of deliberately restricting access to limit dissenting voices.
"People are not supporting the Bill… this process is not fair and should be subjected to a referendum," he said.
The hearing is part of nationwide consultations on the proposed constitutional changes, which have increasingly drawn criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups over alleged lack of transparency and inclusivity.
Witnesses said access to the venue was tightly controlled, with journalists and many villagers reportedly barred from entering. The meeting was held in a small room that could only accommodate about 200 people, despite an estimated 600 attendees turning up.
Some attendees alleged that participants were vetted at the gate, with preference allegedly given to ruling party supporters, village heads and traditional leaders. There were also claims that supporters were instructed to signal allegiance before being allowed to speak.
Former Chirumanzu Rural District Council councillor Menias Mahlavira described the process as unfair, alleging that only selected individuals were allowed to participate.
"The venue was too small. About 500 people failed to give their views. Coached village heads and ruling party officials who slept inside the venue were given the chance to speak," he said.
Some villagers said they were denied entry despite arriving early. One resident, Esnath Kirimba, claimed she was labelled a "rotten egg" and turned away.
"It is my right to participate," she said, arguing that the process appeared to favour one political group.
Another attendee, Gilbert Shangwa, accused organisers of deliberately restricting access to limit dissenting voices.
"People are not supporting the Bill… this process is not fair and should be subjected to a referendum," he said.
The hearing is part of nationwide consultations on the proposed constitutional changes, which have increasingly drawn criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups over alleged lack of transparency and inclusivity.
Source - Mirror
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