MASVINGO — Police have banned residents from holding a demonstration against deteriorating service delivery by the Masvingo City Council. Some of council property was attached by the Deputy Sheriff over a $3,5 million debt owed to workers.
Report by Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent
The police are threatening to arrest residents who take part in the planned street protests being organised by the Masvingo United and Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA).
On 20 December last year, police advised MURRA that their planned street demos would be illegal and did the same this year when similar intentions had been raised, according to Anotidaishe Muguti, MURRA programmes co-ordinator.
Two weeks ago, HIV and Aids activists were also banned from holding street demonstrations in commemoration of the World Aids Day.
“We wrote a letter to the police asking for permission to carry out a peaceful demonstration, but we were not granted the permission and they warned us against taking such action, threatening to arrest whoever participated.
“As the situation at Masvingo City Council continued to deteriorate, we again engaged the police this year, but they said all demonstrations were banned with effect from January last year.
“But we feel ours is a democratic right to freely express our disgruntlement which is being denied by the powers that be,” Muguti said yesterday.
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Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero could not be reached for comment yesterday through his mobile phone.
He was said to be locked in a series of meetings.
However, his deputy Assistant Inspector Charity Mazula professed ignorance over the ban.
“I was on leave and this is my first day at work, I am not aware of that,” she said.
