ZCTU demonstration cleared by police

Police in Harare have cleared the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions' (ZCTU) planned demonstration on Saturday, but warned the demonstrators against getting close to Parliament and court buildings as they would be charged with contravening the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

The union wants to push government to address the welfare of workers and put to an end to threats to freeze wages and push for the creation of jobs as promised during election campaigns.

In a letter dated April 7 this year, Officer Commanding Harare district, Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama, said ZCTU members had a right to hold peaceful demonstrations as it was clearly enshrined in the national Constitution.

As much as we are not opposed to the application, the route you are intending to use falls foul of Section 27 A of the POSA (Chapter 11:17) in that the route passes through the Parliament and less than one-hundred metres from the court in clear contravention of the above legal provision, Saunyama said.

You are, therefore, advised to reconstruct the route which will be in compliance with Section 27 A of the POSA and advise this office at the earliest possible opportunity for further management.