News / Local
MDC-T condemns police for disrupting its Mat North rallies
31 Oct 2011 at 07:18hrs | Views
MDC-T expresses deepest revulsion and disgust over attempts by heavily armed police officers in Matabeleland North in disrupting MDC rallies at the weekend.
MDC-T says it has it on good authority that the person masterminding these disruptions is the ZRP Officer commanding Matabeleland North Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai, acting on the instructions of senior Zanu PF officials.
"This officer is acting in clear violation of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) which simply says that the police have to be informed of a public gathering.
Veterai and his Zanu PF handlers are reading this to mean that police permission is required before the Prime Minister can hold his rallies," said MDC-T in a press statement
Matebeleland North police blocked President Tsvangirai from holding a rally in Lupane on Saturday and Victoria Falls on Sunday.
Last week the Matebeleland North police unsuccessfully tried to block two rallies in Nkayi North and South. The MDC-T President went on to address these attended rallies.
"In contrast, the MDC finds it amazing that the unpopular and sunset party – Zanu PF has been granted and escorted by the police to hold their meetings and rallies in the same province.
Clearly the police in Matabeleland North are embarking on a crusade aimed at disrupting MDC's peaceful rallies in this region. This way the police and Zanu PF want to systematically isolate the MDC from millions of its supporters across the country," added MDC-T.
MDC-T also says, "While the ZRP has largely failed to make meaningful arrests on Zanu PF thugs and miscreants who are waging a reign of terror against the people of Zimbabwe, it has reacted with exemplary alacrity at allegations against MDC supporters and are quick to arrest them, no matter how ridiculous these allegations can be.
The attempts by the police to disrupt the MDC rallies has nothing to do with the rule of law, but represents a clearly desperate but doomed persistence and diligence in fighting the advent of real change which is upon us in this country".
MDC-T says it has it on good authority that the person masterminding these disruptions is the ZRP Officer commanding Matabeleland North Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai, acting on the instructions of senior Zanu PF officials.
"This officer is acting in clear violation of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) which simply says that the police have to be informed of a public gathering.
Veterai and his Zanu PF handlers are reading this to mean that police permission is required before the Prime Minister can hold his rallies," said MDC-T in a press statement
Matebeleland North police blocked President Tsvangirai from holding a rally in Lupane on Saturday and Victoria Falls on Sunday.
Last week the Matebeleland North police unsuccessfully tried to block two rallies in Nkayi North and South. The MDC-T President went on to address these attended rallies.
"In contrast, the MDC finds it amazing that the unpopular and sunset party – Zanu PF has been granted and escorted by the police to hold their meetings and rallies in the same province.
Clearly the police in Matabeleland North are embarking on a crusade aimed at disrupting MDC's peaceful rallies in this region. This way the police and Zanu PF want to systematically isolate the MDC from millions of its supporters across the country," added MDC-T.
MDC-T also says, "While the ZRP has largely failed to make meaningful arrests on Zanu PF thugs and miscreants who are waging a reign of terror against the people of Zimbabwe, it has reacted with exemplary alacrity at allegations against MDC supporters and are quick to arrest them, no matter how ridiculous these allegations can be.
The attempts by the police to disrupt the MDC rallies has nothing to do with the rule of law, but represents a clearly desperate but doomed persistence and diligence in fighting the advent of real change which is upon us in this country".
Source - Byo24News
