Darwendale, November 15, 2009 - Three uniformed soldiers here beat a civilian for wearing an Anti-Kariba Draft Constitution T-shirt on Saturday and left him unconscious.

The T-Shirts were distributed by a Harare Non-Governmental Organisation, Crisis Coalition recently when it held its 2009 People's Convention meeting in Harare.

The Civic society in Zimbabwe is against the adoption of the Kariba Draft Constitution as the new constitution of Zimbabwe before Zimbabweans are given a chance to debate and contribute to it. The draft was adopted by the three political parties in Zimbabwe, the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations and Zanu PF,  prior to the setting up of a new unity government in February. However MDC has agreed to have the draft further discussed by Zimbabweans before coming with a final constitution but Zanu PF has been campaigning against the move, saying there was nothing wrong in adopting the draft as it is.

Zimbabwe needs a new constitution before it holds fresh elections to replace the inclusive government, which was set up with the aid of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

  The man was wearing a "No to Kariba Draft" T-shirt when he was approached by the soldiers who demanded to know what message he was trying  to give by putting on such a T-shirt. "Who  do  you  want  to  see in power, now that you are against President Mugabe and ZANU-PF here and  what  do  you  intend to  achieve  with your  T-shirt in this  area? asked the soldiers. "We want to teach  you  a lesson in front  of your  friends and  we  want  you to  know that we  are in-charge,” said the  soldiers before tearing  the man's  T-shirt and beating  him up using booted  feet and open hands.

Most patrons, at the beer drinking place, where the incident took place, took to their heels, fearing for their lives. The man was left unconscious after the intervention of a bar attendant.

Darwendale, north west of Harare, and a stronghold area for Zanu PF, was once  dominated by white commercial  farms before the chaotic land invasions of 2000.

By Radio VOP