At Tadzika Midzi primary school, Zengeza 5, Zanu PF supporters chased away MDC supporters in the morning and barred the meetings until members of Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) arrived.

They chanted slogans and sung liberation songs before they were ordered off by Copac officers  who, to their credit, made headway in having people who had been turned away, participate in the gathering of views.

Later, there was a huge turnout, which might have scared off the Zanu PF supporters who declared that the late spirit medium Chaminuka was the owner of the constituency and therefore, their party should lead proceedings.

“Chaminuka did not have a Zanu PF card. He was a Zimbabwean who did not belong to Zanu PF so you have no business making your silly demands, “came the reply from the MDC supporters who had swollen just before the meetings resumed.

The near fiasco in Zengeza  could have been an isolated incident as in some areas such as Glen View, Highfield, Glen Norah, Hopley and Hatfield, huge crowds turned out in full force to air their views which ranged from Presidential term of office to electoral laws.

Copac co-chairman Paul Mangwana told the Daily News that the higher turnout and peaceful environment was a sign that the political parties had hammered home their instructions.

Said Mangwana: “We told the political leaders that we don’t want violence and that the constitution is for all. There are no winners and lose in the constitution-making process.

“Basically, the three parties have delivered the message to their supporters and this is why today we are seeing people expressing their views freely.”

He said the previous aborted meetings were like a contest of the political parties as seen by violence which rocked Mbare, Epworth and Chitungwiza.

“It is clear that today there is no contest.  The people have received the message and unlike the regrettable incidents, we are yet to witness or receive reports of violence. It’s a peaceful atmosphere because people have realised it’s all about Zimbabwe not individuals or political parties,” said Mangwana.

He dismissed allegations that some people were bused, especially in Harare South, where an estimated 500 people attended the meeting in Hopley, once a farming area donated to Zanu PF loyalists who divided it into housing stands before the 2008 elections.

Copac held 36 meetings on Saturday and will conclude the outreach programme with the final 20 slated for Sunday, including in Mbare where an MDC supporter died from injuries sustained in disturbances that occurred at Mai Musodzi Hall on September 19.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have repeatedly said the country will hold elections in 2011 after the completion of the constitution-making process.

A referendum  could be held in June  next year to pave way for a new constitution which will set the tone of elections which have drawn mixed signals from key institutions.

Civic society groups maintain that the political environment is poisoned with violence and intimidation and does not bode well for strengthening democratic institutions through the impending plebiscite.

The business community which was ravaged by the economic meltdown of 2008 and previous years fear an immediate election could drive away prospective investors and negate the gains made so far by the inclusive government.

Both the World Bank and the IMF have predicted that Zimbabwe will record a 6% growth in 2011.

Sadc, in its last summit, urged the Zimbabwean leadership to complete the constitution-making process and set timeline for elections.

The current constitution which has been amended 19 times in 31 years is blamed for entrenching Mugabe’s rule which was unflappable before the emergency of the MDC as a strong movement opposing his governance style.

By Daily News