News / National
Police break up late night MDC meeting
25 Jun 2013 at 04:07hrs | Views
Police yesterday arrested an MDC activist who organised a meeting with 100 other supporters in the dead of the night in Mbare.
Police stormed the house in Vito Street, National, broke up the meeting and arrested Taurai Maravanyika (39), whom they believed convened the meeting.
Cops are now warning supporters who are holding illegal gatherings in the dead of night without seeking clearance from the local authorities that they would be arrested.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said police received information that Maravanyika who is employed by the city council and the other supporters were gathered at house number 134 Vito Street, National in Mbare.
"They were conducting an illegal meeting, chanting slogans and were approached by the police. They were questioned and asked to produce a notice from the local regulating authority but they had none," he said.
Maravanyika, believed to have been the leader, was then arrested. Chief Supt Nyathi warned political parties against engaging into unsanctioned night meetings which compromises the safety and security of other residents.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said it was not a secret that there were laws governing the activities of individuals, groups of people and political parties.
"Information at hand points to the fact that some political parties have resorted to unorthodox methods of gathering in violation of the laid-down procedures as clearly detailed in the Public Order and Security Act.
"Groups of as many as 40-50 people are gathering in the middle of the night in pursuance of unknown political agendas. "This is not only illegal under Posa in that no notice of intention to gather would have been made to the police, but it is also risky for those involved as anything unsavoury could happen under the cover of darkness."
Snr Asst Comm. Charamba warned people aligned to any political party to desist from holding such meetings.
"We are aware of people's rights to movement and assembly, but these rights are not absolute. The same laws that allow people to enjoy the rights to movement and assembly also provide certain clauses that demand the adherence to certain procedures in order to enjoy the given rights."
Police stormed the house in Vito Street, National, broke up the meeting and arrested Taurai Maravanyika (39), whom they believed convened the meeting.
Cops are now warning supporters who are holding illegal gatherings in the dead of night without seeking clearance from the local authorities that they would be arrested.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said police received information that Maravanyika who is employed by the city council and the other supporters were gathered at house number 134 Vito Street, National in Mbare.
"They were conducting an illegal meeting, chanting slogans and were approached by the police. They were questioned and asked to produce a notice from the local regulating authority but they had none," he said.
Maravanyika, believed to have been the leader, was then arrested. Chief Supt Nyathi warned political parties against engaging into unsanctioned night meetings which compromises the safety and security of other residents.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said it was not a secret that there were laws governing the activities of individuals, groups of people and political parties.
"Information at hand points to the fact that some political parties have resorted to unorthodox methods of gathering in violation of the laid-down procedures as clearly detailed in the Public Order and Security Act.
"Groups of as many as 40-50 people are gathering in the middle of the night in pursuance of unknown political agendas. "This is not only illegal under Posa in that no notice of intention to gather would have been made to the police, but it is also risky for those involved as anything unsavoury could happen under the cover of darkness."
Snr Asst Comm. Charamba warned people aligned to any political party to desist from holding such meetings.
"We are aware of people's rights to movement and assembly, but these rights are not absolute. The same laws that allow people to enjoy the rights to movement and assembly also provide certain clauses that demand the adherence to certain procedures in order to enjoy the given rights."
Source - newswires
