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Police seek to ban MDC: Tsvangirai
Youth Forum
March 11, 2011

The Country's Prime Minister and MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai has said that the police have tried to ban his party, the MDC-T. He said this while addressing journalists, party cadres and other individuals at the party's headquarters, the Harvest House. Tsvangirai bemoaned the banning of the party's meetings especially at a time when the party is preparing for its congress. He also lambasted the disruption of other lawful gatherings organized by the ZCTU, WOZA, ZLHR and the International Socialist Organization among others.

"What has happened is an informal attempt to ban the MDC, democratic groups and the people's freedoms of assembly, movement and association" said the MDC leader to those gathered. The statements by the Prime Minister come barely four weeks after the same police force tried in vain to stop Youth Forum's colossal campaign encouraging young people to register as voters. The police, in mid-February attacked Youth Forum's offices and violently demanded that the organization must stop sending SMSs that encourage young people to become active voters. The threats and intimidation failed to yield results as the campaign has soared beyond the expectations of many with many activities now lined up to engage the youths and encourage them to register as voters in anticipation of the forthcoming elections.

Investigations by the Youth Forum Research Department revealed that many youths are managing to register although many others have been turned away as exemplified by the turning away of nine Chiredzi youths from Munhumba village who failed to register after failing to produce proof of residence.

The Prime Minister could not hide his anger when he spoke about the arrest of the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Hon Elton Mangoma. Hon Mangoma was picked up yesterday morning by plain clothes constables at his government offices. The MDC-T leader described Hon Mwonzora, Hon Tazviona and activist Munyaradzi Gwisai (all arrested on trumped up charges) as "innocent victims of a barbaric and senseless dictatorship."

He also excoriated the judgment handed down by the Supreme Court reversing the election of Party Chairmen Lovemore Moyo as Speaker of Parliament saying the judiciary had no business interfering with the Legislature as the two are separate arms of the government with different "rules and regulations". Hon Moyo's election was challenged by the then-independent and ever-notorious Tsholotsho Member of Parliament Jonathan Moyo who has since re-joined Zanu PF and reclaimed his politburo seat. The reversal of the election will leave many questions on the impartiality and professionalism of the courts of law.

The Prime Minister also lamented various other issues bedeviling the country including the heinous violence that has rocked Mbare, unbridled hate speech emanating from the almost-defunct ZBC signifying the broadcaster as "unashamed mouthpieces of a fading and expiring party" and the theft and corruption that is rampant in ZANU PF to the extent that state organs like the army are now involved in mining the revered Chiadzwa diamonds.

The PM's lamentations serve to confirm what the Youth Forum has always been alluding to: the partisan nature of the security forces and the judiciary which, if it continues unchecked, will lead to a sham electoral process led by Zanu charlatans masquerading as bona fide electoral officials and security forces. As youths, we need to safeguard our country by registering to vote in masses and going out to vote on election day.

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