News / National
Police approved 94 percent of MDC-T rallies: Chihuri
06 Apr 2011 at 07:43hrs | Views
In a development that casts doubt on the basis for the SADC Troika Communiqué of March 31, 2011, the Zimbabwe Republic Police have shot down claims by the Prime Minister, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai that police have been conducting themselves in a partisan manner.
Statistics compiled by the police in response to allegations of bias against the MDC-T by its leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai indicate that police received a total of 682 notification for meetings from the formation and approved 644 (94%) between the period 1 January to 24 March this year.
The MDC submitted 31 notices of meetings and 29 of them, which translate to 94%, were sanctioned by the police.
Zanu-PF notified the police of 816 meetings with 788 of the meetings approved.
The approval rate is 97%.
Other parties had 38 notifications and 37 were approved, which translates to 97%.
The police report also gives breakdowns of notifications per province that show that Manicaland, Mashonaland West, and Matabeleland North and South have the highest number of meetings by political parties.
The police said the few cases where MDC-T meetings are not approved is attributable to the situation when the formation gives notice of meetings that run parallel to national events.
The police cite among other notifications, the notification by the MDC-T to hold a rally at the Glamis Arena on the 27th of March, the day of the burial of the late national hero, Cde David Karimanzira.
The police say during such events, they are unable to provide security coverage as they will be committed to the national event.
The statistics by the police come amid deep concern by Zanu-PF that the SADC Troika endorsed a misleading report submitted by the MDC-T to the SADC facilitator, South African President Jacob Zuma.
The Livingstone Troika meeting in Zambia last week drew its conclusions from the facilitation team's report.
However, the Zanu-PF delegation was not given a copy of the report written by President Zuma's facilitation team, yet it was this document that was endorsed by the Troika and used to draw conclusions on the state of the inclusive government.
Statistics compiled by the police in response to allegations of bias against the MDC-T by its leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai indicate that police received a total of 682 notification for meetings from the formation and approved 644 (94%) between the period 1 January to 24 March this year.
The MDC submitted 31 notices of meetings and 29 of them, which translate to 94%, were sanctioned by the police.
Zanu-PF notified the police of 816 meetings with 788 of the meetings approved.
The approval rate is 97%.
Other parties had 38 notifications and 37 were approved, which translates to 97%.
The police report also gives breakdowns of notifications per province that show that Manicaland, Mashonaland West, and Matabeleland North and South have the highest number of meetings by political parties.
The police said the few cases where MDC-T meetings are not approved is attributable to the situation when the formation gives notice of meetings that run parallel to national events.
The police cite among other notifications, the notification by the MDC-T to hold a rally at the Glamis Arena on the 27th of March, the day of the burial of the late national hero, Cde David Karimanzira.
The police say during such events, they are unable to provide security coverage as they will be committed to the national event.
The statistics by the police come amid deep concern by Zanu-PF that the SADC Troika endorsed a misleading report submitted by the MDC-T to the SADC facilitator, South African President Jacob Zuma.
The Livingstone Troika meeting in Zambia last week drew its conclusions from the facilitation team's report.
However, the Zanu-PF delegation was not given a copy of the report written by President Zuma's facilitation team, yet it was this document that was endorsed by the Troika and used to draw conclusions on the state of the inclusive government.
Source - Byo24News
