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Freedom march goes ahead as Elias Mudzuri is arrested
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
January 23, 2008

The Freedom march, which was organized by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) went ahead today, 23 January 2008 in Harare despite futile attempts by the police to stop the march.

MDC supporters and Zimbabweans at large took to the streets of Harare to call for a new constitution, repelling of nefarious laws such as Public Order and Security Act (POSA), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and to task government to address the socio-economic challenges facing the country among other demands.

During the march, police fired tear gas while scores of protestors were beaten up by a group of plain clothed men believed to be members of the Central Intelligence Organisation. Former Harare mayor, Elias Mudzuri was arrested during the march.

The demonstrators were later addressed by MDC President, Morgan Tsvangirai at a rally held at Glamis Stadium at the Harare Exhibition Park. This followed his arrest earlier at 0400 hours at his Harare home by plain clothed police officers from Harare Central police station, Law and Order section. The opposition president was only released at 0800 hours after being interrogated by the police for 4 hours. According his lawyers, the police noted that they wanted assurance from Tsvangirai that there will be no disturbances in town following the cancellation of the police clearance under POSA on Monday 21 January 2008. Israeli imported water cannons were spotted deployed in different parts of the city centre while police trucks were stationed at the magistrate's court where the opposition was to lodge their appeal against the police decision.

The Magistrate's Court allowed the demonstration to continue arguing that it was legal. The police however, deployed a T35 truck full of soldiers who started firing tear gas as soon as the demonstration commenced at the MDC headquarters at Harvest House.

This is not the first time that POSA has been used selectively. In February 2007 the MDC was stopped by the police from launching their presidential campaign although the High Court had ruled that they should proceed with the rally. After the police banned rallies in Harare in February 2007, supporters of the ruling ZANU PF party gathered at the party Headquarters defying the ban. The police took no action against the party.

On the 30th of November 2007, ZANU PF supporters took to the streets during the one million men march, which was meant to endorse President Robert Mugabe's presidential candidature. The supporters were escorted by the police, a move which showed how partisan the law enforcers are.

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