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Strikes and Protests 2007/8 - Index of articles
Police
lift ban on rallies and demonstrations in Harare
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
June 27, 2007
View
original banning orders
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news270607/rallies270607.htm
The Movement
for Democratic Change on Wednesday said it received communication
from the police advising them that a ban on rallies and meetings,
imposed in Harare last week, has now been lifted. On Friday Chief
Superintendent Isaac Tawengwa who commands Harare Central, announced
an extension of the initial ban by a further month. Rallies, demonstrations
and political gatherings in the Harare Central District were banned
from the 24th June to 23rd July. The government made use of the
repressive Public
Order and Security Act (POSA). Armed riot police travelling
in two armoured cars delivered a copy of that notice to the MDC
Harvest House headquarters last week. On Wednesday the police made
a U-turn. Nelson Chamisa, a spokesperson for the Tsvangirai MDC,
says it was always going to be hard for the government to sustain
their arguments for the ban and the MDC is not surprised it has
been lifted. He said since the enactment of POSA in 2002, Zanu PF
has held 1 211 rallies nationwide without any due notice to the
police. The MDC meanwhile has given notice to hold 2,342 rallies
but only 276 have been allowed to proceed.
The MDC issued statements
saying the ban was an assault on the people's basic freedoms
of movement, association and assembly. 'Due to the closure
of the private media, alternative methods of communication and repressive
legislation, rallies are the only remaining platform for the MDC
to interact with its members,' the party argued. They also
said the ban violated the spirit of current negotiations between
Zanu PF and the MDC that are being brokered by South African President
Thabo Mbeki. Concerns were expressed about the possibility of a
free and fair election in light of these actions and analysts say
pressure from the South African government might have been key in
reversing the ban. Chamisa said the lifting of the ban was immaterial,
because they were prepared to ignore it anyway and hold their rallies.
Over the weekend the party held rallies in Chinhoyi, Kwekwe and
Gokwe. Chamisa said their supporters made it clear they want a new
people driven constitution before elections in 2008. Asked what
they were telling their supporters to do in regard to the voter
registration exercise being conducted by government, he said it
was important for people to register in order to build up their
collective voice. Despite acknowledging the Registrar General was
a stooge of the regime and assigned to rig elections it was still
important to have as many voters on the roll as possible.
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