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"Respect the right to assemble," Heads of Mission in Zimbabwe tell government

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Harare, Zimbabwe, August 20 (Infosplusgabon) - Western Heads of Missions in Zimbabwe have called on government to respect the constitutional rights to 'freedom of assembly' as provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe under section 59.

 

This comes as once more the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) banned planned protests in the city of Gweru late on Monday which were scheduled for Tuesday. The ban follows the ZRP banning similar demonstrations last Friday in Harare and in Bulawayo on Monday.

 

“The call is for the authorities to respect the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as well as to peaceful protest and urge all political party leaders and supporters to abstain from threats and incitement to violence as well as acts of violence or vandalism. The security forces must adhere to their Constitutional mandate and exercise restraint and proportionately while maintaining public order,” reads part of joint statement from the Heads of Mission issued on Tuesday.

 

The joint statement was drawn up by the Heads of Missions from the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States of America in Zimbabwe.

 

“Only by addressing concretely and rapidly these human rights violations will the government of Zimbabwe give credibility to its commitments to address long-standing governance challenges,” reads part of joint statement.

 

“The Heads of Mission reiterate their calls for the implementation of the government’s political and economic reform agenda, underpinned by inclusive national dialogue and increased efforts to address the severe social media.”

 

The planned protests were being organized by Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC), over declining economic and political conditions.

 

After the High Court of Zimbabwe upheld the ban of planned demonstrations in Harare on Friday forcing the MDC to cancel the protests, supporters who were already in the capital’s central business district refused to go leading to violent clashes with the police.

 

In the lead up to the planned protests on Monday, in Bulawayo, several arrests of MDC officials were made who were expected to lead protests.

 

These were MDC National Chairperson, Thabitha Khumalo, Bulawayo Provincial Organising Secretary, Helen Mpofu, and Bulawayo Provincial Women's Chairperson, Luba Masotsha. The ZRP also arrested MDC members Elliot Mujeri, Tinashe Matimbura, Meliqiniso Sithole, Shelton Tembo and an unidentified female MDC member.

 

However, after the protests in Bulawayo were banned and the court upheld the decision, these MDC officials were each released on bail of ZWL (Zimbabwe dollars) $200 (US$19.04).

 

But, these officials are required to report once a week on Fridays to the police.

 

Similarly, the Gweru protests, scheduled for Tuesday were also later banned with a heavy police presence reported in the city throughout the day.

 

ZRP's reasons for banning the protests were due to the police being under capacitated to handle them and allegations that the MDC were planning to commit violent acts.

 

MDC Vice President and Harare East Legislator Tendai Biti told PANA that the bans could lead to civil unrest.

 

“They (government) should be lucky that the MDC is willing to comply with the law. The citizens themselves outside the MDC will one day take the law into their own hands so the fight is not monopolized by the MDC. The MDC is one of the actors in this struggle,” he said.

 

“When you refuse to talk to people, to allow people to vent themselves and when you shut down the citizens in forums such as the courts you are pushing the citizens to resort to other means that is why we had a coup in November 2017. The coup happened because there was a close on the political space so this regime is setting itself up for another coup or a popular uprising.”

 

However, he said that the MDC would continue to exercise their rights to demonstrate and petition as stipulated in the constitution.

 

On Wednesday and Thursday, the MDC has planned protests in Masvingo and Mutare respectively.

 

 

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/PML/GABON2019

 

 

 

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