Police bar Biti from addressing an MDC-T rally

Tendai Biti, secretary general of MDC-T has been barred again by police from addressing a rally at Nyamakate Business Centre in Hurungwe North Constituency.

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said his party was outraged with what was happening in Mash West where police have blatantly refused to okay MDC rallies.

Sometime this year, Biti was forced to hold a rally in a bush near a graveyard after soldiers allegedly occupied Darwendale Stadium. Zanu-PF youths reportedly went wild, bringing down tents, tearing MDC-T posters and even burning the grass around the venue.

MDC-T rallies which were scheduled to take place early in August in Mashonaland West were cancelled at the last minute after police reportedly ordered the party to seek clearance from chiefs and headmen.

Mashonaland West, President Robert Mugabe's home province, is a-Zanu PF stronghold and has been largely a "no-go area" for other political parties.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said: "We find that totally outrageous and unacceptable. The MDC will fight the decision."

Party organising secretary Nelson Chamisa added that the MDC-T would go ahead with the planned rallies countrywide including Mashonaland West province.

Wilson Makanyaire MDC-T Mashonaland West organising secretary said police refused to sanction the rallies, saying MDC-T had to get clearance from traditional leaders in areas under whose jurisdiction the rallies would be conducted.

"The police also demanded that the party be cleared by rural district councils before the rallies could proceed," Makanyaire said.

Instances of violence have been on the increase as the country edges towards a watershed election to end the inclusive government, in place since 2009 after disputed polls marred by State-sponsored violence.