News / National
ZANU PF supporters disrupt a Chikomba community engagement training
25 Aug 2016 at 00:56hrs | Views
ZANU PF supporters, Tuesday morning the 23rd of August 2016, disrupted a Community Engagement Training that was organised by Chivhu Residents Association.
According to the Election Resources Centre Zimbabwe, the training, which was scheduled for 10:00 hours at Chivhu Community hall, was aimed at empowering citizens to express their voices on local governance issues with local leaders.
Chivhu Residents Association sought technical support from the Election Resource Centre (ERC) in an effort to empower citizens to demand transparency and accountability from their local leaders.
ZANU PF youth militia and others who claimed to be war veterans chanted political songs and demanded that the meeting be disbanded forthwith. Attendees were drawn from Chivhu Residents Association and ordinary citizens who are disgruntled over summons they were served with by the Chivhu Town Council on rate bills, yet the Council is not providing any form of service to residents.
Although the police were notified of the meeting and were present at the meeting, they turned a blind eye on these rogue ZANU PF elements. The police, whose constitutional mandate is to provide law and order in a professional and non–partisan manner, however failed to ensure that the intended process goes on well.
Chivhu Residents Association and the ERC are distraught by the infringement of the freedom of association and assembly, which is a constitutional right.
Chapter 4 (Section 58 and 61) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe recognizes freedom of assembly and association hence it is the right of every person and or communities to engage with their chiefs headmen, councilors and other leaders to discuss issues pertaining to local governance.
The ERC notes with concern, continued trends of disruptions of community meetings which have been recorded in Bikita, Hurungwe, Chipinge and Hwedza over the last 11 months.
The ERC is worried that this may be a deliberate attempt to close democratic spaces ahead of the 2018 Harmonized Elections. Given the obtaining environment, the citizens of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely participate and express themselves in the upcoming electoral processes.
According to the Election Resources Centre Zimbabwe, the training, which was scheduled for 10:00 hours at Chivhu Community hall, was aimed at empowering citizens to express their voices on local governance issues with local leaders.
Chivhu Residents Association sought technical support from the Election Resource Centre (ERC) in an effort to empower citizens to demand transparency and accountability from their local leaders.
ZANU PF youth militia and others who claimed to be war veterans chanted political songs and demanded that the meeting be disbanded forthwith. Attendees were drawn from Chivhu Residents Association and ordinary citizens who are disgruntled over summons they were served with by the Chivhu Town Council on rate bills, yet the Council is not providing any form of service to residents.
Chivhu Residents Association and the ERC are distraught by the infringement of the freedom of association and assembly, which is a constitutional right.
Chapter 4 (Section 58 and 61) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe recognizes freedom of assembly and association hence it is the right of every person and or communities to engage with their chiefs headmen, councilors and other leaders to discuss issues pertaining to local governance.
The ERC notes with concern, continued trends of disruptions of community meetings which have been recorded in Bikita, Hurungwe, Chipinge and Hwedza over the last 11 months.
The ERC is worried that this may be a deliberate attempt to close democratic spaces ahead of the 2018 Harmonized Elections. Given the obtaining environment, the citizens of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely participate and express themselves in the upcoming electoral processes.
Source - Byo24News
