THE MDC-T yesterday filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an interdict barring the Zimbabwe Republic Police from interfering with its planned peaceful demonstration scheduled for May 28 in the city.
BY SILAS NKALA
This follows a May 5 letter by MDC-T’s Bulawayo organising secretary, James Sithole advising police of the planned demonstration.
Police immediately blocked the march, citing security concerns.
Part of the police letter of the same date read: “I regret to inform you that this office has serious reservations on the intended march due to the fact that a similar march conducted in April in Harare was not peaceful.
“Please take note there are numerous challenges facing our national economy, making the environment not conducive for political demonstrations of any form. Your intended demonstration will be infiltrated by bad elements considering the number of participants. Our office cannot guarantee the security of the participants. As a result of the above, I regret to notify you that your march cannot be sanctioned by this office.”
This prompted the MDC-T, through its lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya, to file an urgent application challenging the police decision.
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The party cited the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Central District, Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo as respondents respectively.
“The first respondent has sought to bar the applicant’s planned peaceful demonstration to be held on May 28 and it is reasonably convinced that the first respondent may unleash members of the police force to disrupt and disturb the demonstration . . .,” the urgent application reads.
“More so, first respondent has not advanced any reasons or legal basis to suggest that the demonstration would not be peaceful or would lead to a breakdown of law and order. In fact, applicant successfully held a similar demonstration on April 14.”
The party submitted that it had committed its time and resources towards the planned demonstration.
Sithole, in his founding affidavit, stated that the demonstration was key to the party, supporters and general public, as it sought to ensure accountability and transparency of public institutions and the government so that citizens secure full recognition, advancement and enjoyment of their rights, interests and dignity.
