Staff Reporter
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned political parties against holding unsanctioned rallies following the opposition party, Citizen Coalition for Change’s (CCC) illegal car rally in Marondera on Saturday.
In a press statement released yesterday, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police clarifies and sets the record straight on security arrangements and the holding of political rallies in view of the current campaigns by parties and aspiring candidates for the scheduled by-elections set for March 26, 2022.
“Firstly, it is the responsibility of a convener to notify the local regulating authority who is the Officer Commanding a Police District, of the intention to hold a rally in line with provisions of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), Chapter 11:23.
“It is not just a case of notification, the convener has a responsibility to discuss and agree on the security and safety measures to be availed at the rally for the benefit of the public and the community in general.”
Nyathi said the police had noted with concern that some political parties were adopting a confrontational approach when notifying the regulating authorities on their intended rallies. He further said that some of the conveners and their legal advisors were resorting to communicating wrong information to their supporters and also using social media to post communication details with the Police without exhausting all the legal remedies provided for under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), Chapter 11:23.
Nyathi slated CCC for convening an illegal rally in Marondera.
“In the case of Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC)`s Marondera rally, it is clear that the convener had not complied with relevant provisions of MOPA and was duly advised by the regulating authority, however, the convener had not complied with relevant provisions of MOPA and was duly advised by the regulating authority, however, the convener and their lawyers insisted that the rally will go ahead while at the same time a court process was in motion at the High Court and subsequently at the local Magistrate Court after Justice Mungwari had ruled that the CCC convener had to exhaust all the domestic legal remedies provided under MOPA before holding a rally. This is on record,” he said.
Nyathi said that CCC had already mobilized CCC supporters on the ground to gather without sanctioning and conclusion of the court proceedings.
He reiterated that anyone holding or hosting car rallies will be arrested without fear or favour adding that the police arrested 26 suspects in Harare and Masvingo for holding car rallies.
Nyathi promised the public that the ZRP would ensure that the forthcoming by-elections are held in a peaceful environment adding that any form of lawlessness by individuals, groups or political parties will not be tolerated.
