ZANU PF intimidation is continuing to mar the ongoing process to develop a new constitution, amid warnings that the process is being undermined by violence.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported on Monday that ZANU PF thugs are still threatening people, mainly in rural areas, trying to force them to toe the party line. Muchemwa said that fear of reprisal means there is almost no participation in the public process in some areas, particularly where ZANU PF still has a strong footing.

He said, in areas like the Chivi district in Masvingo, the public have been issued with pamphlets that contain ZANU PF approved answers about the constitution. At the same time, CIO operatives and feared police officials have been sent to certain areas to speak on behalf of residents, which Muchemwa said was a move to ensure silence from villagers.

The MDC on Monday also reported that in Matabeleland North province, ZANU PF officials in Umguza area are harassing and intimidating MDC members. Sawmills Headman Jealous Tshakalisa has intimidated and threatened Simon Moyo, the MDC Umguza district youth vice chairperson who has been mobilising people to participate in the constitution process.

In Mashonaland East province, an MDC member in Sadza, Chikomba East district, Kemson Chikasha lost his front two teeth after he was assaulted by his brother, who is a ZANU PF apologist and village head. The assault took place during a constitution consultation meeting in Sadza on June 28 when Kemson contributed during the meeting. His brother, the village head, warned him not to speak as spokespersons had already been selected prior to the meeting to speak on behalf of the whole ward.

The constitutional reform process has already been overshadowed by administrative issues and a multitude of reports of intimidation and violence. In the latest incident of violence three human rights monitors, overseeing the public consultation process, were captured and beaten with logs by ZANU PF supporters last weekend. Amnesty International has warned that the attacks on human rights activists are undermining the efforts to reform the constitution, and are a worrying reminder of the organised violence that took place during the 2008 elections.

The monitors Paul Nechishanu, Artwel Katandika and Shingairayi Garira, were working for the Independent Constitution Monitoring Project, which is jointly run by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, the Zimbabwe Peace Project and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. The men were reportedly abducted by ZANU PF supporters and taken to a farm in the Makonde district of Mashonaland West. Garira sustained injuries to his eardrum while Nechishanu and Katandika suffered head injuries after all three were beaten with logs.

The beatings followed the arrest of another team of monitors, Godfrey Nyarota and Tapiwa Mavherevhedze, plus their driver Cornelius Chengu, in Mutare. They were charged with practicing journalism without accreditation and released on US$20 bail each. Reports indicate that the police acted at the instigation of a well known ZANU PF activist and "war veteran".

Another activist in Mutare, Enddy Ziyera, the provincial coordinator of the independent monitoring project, was detained for several hours and released without charge after bringing food for the three activists in detention. On the same day in Marondera, three MDC activists were seized by unidentified state security agents. They were later found detained at Marondera police station and are yet to be charged.