News / National
Chamisa's MDC fumes over anniversary ban
15 Sep 2018 at 04:12hrs | Views
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Friday government was acting contrary to the country's laws through declaring the current cholera outbreak a state of emergency and abruptly banning public gatherings.
The development has affected the opposition's plans to hold its 19th anniversary celebrations which were slated for Harare this Saturday.
"The fact the government has declared a fake state of emergency in Harare declaring without gazetting with the deployment of military helicopters yesterday (Wednesday) indicates that the government is more concerned about politics than it is about Cholera," he said in a statement.
"Central government has done very little. This includes the fact that they did not declare a state of emergency until President Chamisa had made the call," Mafume said.
"We encouraged the government to do so to allow for planning. Even then, the declaration of a State of Emergency was only done on a Facebook page and has not been promulgated in the government gazette."
Mafume insists "the deployment of military helicopters Wednesday indicates that the government is more concerned about politics than it is about Cholera".
"If this is truly a serious situation, it would be important to close all areas where large crowds meet, including schools, football matches etc.
"This illegitimate government is acting unlawfully and is informed by nothing but, a permanent fear of the people.
"There is only one way to deal with illegitimacy; allowing a return to a legal government as indicated by what the people voted for."
MDC is up in arms with the Zanu-PF led government in the wake of its leader Nelson Chamisa's bid to hold his "thank you" rallies countrywide to thank Zimbabweans for voting "overwhelmingly" for him.
Chamisa insists he won the July 30 presidential election but was denied passage to State House through poll fraud.
The development has affected the opposition's plans to hold its 19th anniversary celebrations which were slated for Harare this Saturday.
"The fact the government has declared a fake state of emergency in Harare declaring without gazetting with the deployment of military helicopters yesterday (Wednesday) indicates that the government is more concerned about politics than it is about Cholera," he said in a statement.
"Central government has done very little. This includes the fact that they did not declare a state of emergency until President Chamisa had made the call," Mafume said.
"We encouraged the government to do so to allow for planning. Even then, the declaration of a State of Emergency was only done on a Facebook page and has not been promulgated in the government gazette."
Mafume insists "the deployment of military helicopters Wednesday indicates that the government is more concerned about politics than it is about Cholera".
"If this is truly a serious situation, it would be important to close all areas where large crowds meet, including schools, football matches etc.
"This illegitimate government is acting unlawfully and is informed by nothing but, a permanent fear of the people.
"There is only one way to deal with illegitimacy; allowing a return to a legal government as indicated by what the people voted for."
MDC is up in arms with the Zanu-PF led government in the wake of its leader Nelson Chamisa's bid to hold his "thank you" rallies countrywide to thank Zimbabweans for voting "overwhelmingly" for him.
Chamisa insists he won the July 30 presidential election but was denied passage to State House through poll fraud.
Source - newzimbabwe
