RIOT police yesterday thwarted an attempt by opposition MDC-T supporters to hold a peaceful demonstration in Harare to push for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe and implementation of electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 polls.
BY MOSES MATENGA
There was a heavy police presence in Harare’s central business district especially along Nelson Mandela Avenue close to Parliament and MDC-T headquarters at Harvest House.
The MDC-T had organised the demonstration yesterday to protest against the Zanu PF government’s failure to reverse the worsening economic crisis.
The demonstration was supposed to start at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way and end with the presentation of a petition to Parliament calling for the immediate realignment of laws to the new Constitution.
Police on December 11 had written to the MDC-T notifying the party that it could not proceed with the demonstration.
“This office regrets to inform you that your event could not be sanctioned due to the reasons we discussed in our meeting on December 11,” the officer commanding Harare central district Chief Superintendent Norbert Saunyama said.
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MDC-T youth vice-chairperson for Harare, Batanai Masunda, said police argued that the realignment of the laws was “work-in-progress”, advising them to demonstrate against their MPs to give them feedback.
“The police said our MPs should update us at what stage they have reached with alignment of laws. We told them there was no progress and despite President Mugabe saying laws will be aligned with the new Constitution, it seems they are not taking that seriously,” Masunda said.
MDC-T youth secretary for Harare Denford Ngadziore accused police of acting as an extension of Zanu PF.
“They are even failing to arrest Zanu PF perpetrators of violence in Harare South and Mbare that led to several MDC youths being hospitalised,” Ngadziore said.
On several occasions, the MDC-T has been blocked from holding peaceful demonstrations and rallies.
Recently, police clamped down on MDC-T supporters who had gathered for a rally in Hopley Farm, Harare South, where scores of party officials were injured after violent clashes with marauding PF supporters.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba could not be reached for comment yesterday.
