Zimbabwe’s prime minister says violence that killed 1 strips constitution reform of legitimacy

Zimbabwe PM condemns violence against reform

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s prime minister says one of his supporters has died following violence that disrupted constitutional reform meetings.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has accused police, the military and militants of President Robert Mugabe’s party of spurring the violence in an attempt to delay reforms.

The government has been holding meetings about the new constitution since July to gather public opinion.

At least five people were wounded in weekend clashes between rival party supporters, forcing several meetings in main cities to be abandoned. Tsvangirai said Wednesday said one person later died.

Under a two-year-old coalition agreement between longtime rivals Mugabe and Tsvangirai, a new constitution must be drawn up before fresh elections can be held.