POLICE in Harare have admitted that their Tuesday action, deploying anti-riot police to block Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s constitution campaign meeting in Highfield, was a blunder. STAFF REPORTER
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told NewsDay yesterday that the “blunder” had been caused by a communication challenge between the police and the MDC-T.
Armed anti-riot police descended on Zimbabwe Hall at Machipisa business centre and dispersed nearly 2 000 MDC-T supporters who had gathered to hear Tsvangirai speak on the constitution.
The police said the meeting had not been sanctioned by the law enforcement agents.
Charamba yesterday said: “What happened is that the notice to hold their (MDC-T) meeting first went to the Commissioner–General (Augustine Chihuri), but the right channel to use when you want to hold meetings is, you first notify the officer commanding district who will then do the consultations,” Charamba said.
“In this case it started at the top and co-ordination to the bottom was the problem. But they have gone through the right channels now and their meeting will go ahead. That issue has been rectified.”
Soon after the incident, Tsvangirai condemned the police action and immediately posted on his Facebook wall pictures of armed policemen dispersing his supporters from the venue.
The MDC-T said the incident had confirmed long-held fears that the political playing field would remain tilted against its members until security sector reforms have been implemented.
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Meanwhile, Tsvangirai was last night expected to address a similar meeting at New Glen View 1 shopping centre in Harare.
