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MDC condemns banning of demonstrations
Movement for Democratic Change
May 20, 2010

The MDC condemns the decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs to ban peaceful public demonstrations until after the World Cup in South Africa. The decision is not only a violation of the people's basic rights, but a confirmation that we have indisputably become a banana republic which is afraid of the people's Constitutional right to express themselves.

The freedoms of expression, movement and association are never threats to any government but provide an opportunity for the people to peacefully express themselves. Freedoms are never a liability but an asset in a true democracy. Demonstrations are the people's lifeline and a platform for expression in an environment such as ours where newspapers and radio stations are monopolised and directed by parochial political interests.

In fact, the World Cup should be Zimbabwe's chance to showcase that we respect people's rights. It is our opportunity to show that the people's rights and freedoms are sacrosanct and cannot be subordinated simply because there is a World Cup. Banning demonstrations confirms perceptions and stereotypes that we are a banana republic. Dictatorships are averse to the people's rights to express themselves and this decision will seriously dent the credibility and image of the inclusive government.

The MDC calls on the Co- Ministers of Home Affairs to re-look into this decision, which flies in the face of all our pretence to be on the way to joining the family of nations. We urge the people of Zimbabwe who would want to engage in peaceful demonstrations to do so as it is their basic and Constitutional right.

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