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Civic society blasts police

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CIVIC society organisations in Bulawayo have described the recent police crackdown on human rights defenders as a calculated move meant to block them from conducting awareness campaigns ahead of the constitutional referendum and harmonised elections.

CIVIC society organisations in Bulawayo have described the recent police crackdown on human rights defenders as a calculated move meant to block them from conducting awareness campaigns ahead of the constitutional referendum and harmonised elections.

Report by Blondie Ndebele

This follows a police raid at the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) offices last week where the law enforcement agents claimed they were searching for voter registration certificates.

Habakkuk Trust chief executive officer Dumisani Nkomo was also summoned by police detectives from Plumtree over a public meeting held recently in the district.

Speaking during a Bulawayo Agenda-organised civic society breakfast meeting in Bulawayo last Friday, National Association of Non- Governmental Organisations (Nango) chairperson Effie Ncube said civic society groups now viewed the crackdown as meant to stifle their operations.

“The most critical thing is the operating ground,” said Ncube. “We can be given six months or a year with this draft, but as long as we still have these draconian laws like Posa (Public Order and Security Act) that forbid people to go out and educate the community, we will not go anywhere. People will not be fully informed about the new draft constitution.”

Organisations were calling for the suspension of provisions of Posa so that they could carry out their outreach programmes effectively.

“When you (Copac) give us 25 days to hold these public awareness campaigns, some of the time will be used up through getting the clearance from police. This takes about four days.

“They should reduce this to about a day so that we can work efficiently,” Ncube said.

“We are having problems with the police, we appeal to you (politicians). Please, tell them to stop harassing people so that we can work and familiarise with the constitution.”

MDC Copac co- chairperson Edward Mkhosi, who was one of the panellists, said organisations should report cases of intimidation and harassment during voter education to the select committee who would deal with them.

“If police harass you, please tell us,” he said.