The independent constitutional outreach monitoring organization, ZZZICOMP, has reported that a District Administrator in Masvingo has gone into hiding after being threatened by ZANU PF militias for his contributions at a meeting at Chivi Centre.

At the meeting Bernard Hadzirabwi suggested that the Prime Minister should have executive powers. A contribution that did not go down well with the ZANU PF supporters and CIO's present at the meeting two weeks ago.

ZZZICOMP observers on the ground said that on Monday ZANU PF youths were organising a demonstration against Hadzirabwi at the centre. They also threatened security guards at his offices.

Further intimidation of other individuals has also been reported by the independent monitoring organisation. The ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee Chairperson, Sanders Magwizi, summoned the head of the District Development Fund in the area, Ernest Temba, to his office. He alleged that Temba made contributions that were against ZANU PF's views and the Kariba Draft during a COPAC outreach meeting.

In the same district, an official in the Ministry of Women's Affairs received violent threats from ZANU PF youths for the contributions he made at an outreach meeting held at Chivi Centre. And, in Manicaland, an independent monitor was detained for more than three hours on Friday last week following an outreach meeting in Mutasa North Ward 4, at Dumba Business Centre.

John Ziyera was observing the proceedings but was detained after ZANU PF supporters accused him of being a stranger and tried to physically assault him. He was saved by David Chimhini, one of the Constitution Select Committee's team leaders, who handed him over to the police. He was later taken to Mutare Central Police Station.

Ziyera said he was interrogated by the police throughout his stay at the police station, but was not told of the charges he was facing.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights lawyer Blessing Nyamaropa facilitated his release on the same day, but he was told to report back at the police station the next morning.

When he did so he was told they would call him if they found a case against him.

Meanwhile, the MDC'S national Women's Assembly secretary, Evelyn Masaiti, has said the greatest weapon for a new Zimbabwe is for the people to participate in the Constitution-making outreach programme. She was speaking at an MDC rally at Masuku, Gokwe - Sengwa in Midlands North province on Sunday. She said that ZANU PF was stopping people from attending the outreach meetings.

But in the same MDC statement that quoted Masaiti, it was also noted that in Mwenezi East, Masvingo province, Colonel Hungwe of Ngundu Halt, Major Neshuro and Justice Sithole, the ZANU PF chairperson of Mwenezi District Coordinating Committee, last week Friday threatened villagers of Chingamhi Ward 5 with death if they did not support the discredited Kariba draft in the Constitution-making process. Hungwe was armed with an AK47 rifle when he addressed the meeting.

An observer queried how Evelyn Masaiti would feel about attending a constitutional outreach meeting and speaking freely, if she was threatened with death by an army colonel wielding an AK 47.

Unless the MDC are able to stop this violent intimidation one thing is certain - the constitution outreach program cannot possible reflect the genuine wishes of Zimbabweans.