News / National
Zanu PF members storm, attack PDP offices
06 Sep 2016 at 16:43hrs | Views
SUSPECTED Zanu PF members have stormed opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) offices in Bulawayo.
PDP was due to hold a meeting to prepare for its one year anniversary celebrations at the weekend at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
However, police banned the celebrations yesterday.
Fortune Mlalazi, PDP Bulawayo deputy spokesperson said " Zanu thugs have besieged PDP offices in Bulawayo and disrupted preparatory meeting by the SG".
Party president, Tendai Biti was quick to condemn the move on his official twitter account. He said "Ridiculous. Our office in Lobengula under invasion by riot police. For Christ s sake we are a peaceful party#Enough".
PDP had notified the police of its intention to hold a rally to mark its first anniversary, but the police said they could not allow it, as they were stretched in trying to prevent full-scale war and terror.
"Serious threats have been received from various pressure groups through social media inciting people to declare a full war in Zimbabwe starting on September 2, to destroy all police properties, to destroy all roadblocks with fire, to blow up all government vehicles and buildings, attack all members of the prison services and release all prisoners in jail, seize Zimbabwe Revenue Authority by force, shut down all major shops until government changes, prevent all airlines from landing and taking off, allow bus operators to operate at their risk and to blow up all Zupco buses and ambulances," the police wrote in a letter banning the party's planned celebrations.
Police last week issued a ban on all protests in the capital for the next two weeks.
The notice cited a lack of manpower to prevent disorder. It said that demonstrations would only be allowed after September 16.
The notice also stated that anyone taking part in protests before then could be imprisoned for up to a year. Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in the past weeks, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.
PDP was due to hold a meeting to prepare for its one year anniversary celebrations at the weekend at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
However, police banned the celebrations yesterday.
Fortune Mlalazi, PDP Bulawayo deputy spokesperson said " Zanu thugs have besieged PDP offices in Bulawayo and disrupted preparatory meeting by the SG".
Party president, Tendai Biti was quick to condemn the move on his official twitter account. He said "Ridiculous. Our office in Lobengula under invasion by riot police. For Christ s sake we are a peaceful party#Enough".
"Serious threats have been received from various pressure groups through social media inciting people to declare a full war in Zimbabwe starting on September 2, to destroy all police properties, to destroy all roadblocks with fire, to blow up all government vehicles and buildings, attack all members of the prison services and release all prisoners in jail, seize Zimbabwe Revenue Authority by force, shut down all major shops until government changes, prevent all airlines from landing and taking off, allow bus operators to operate at their risk and to blow up all Zupco buses and ambulances," the police wrote in a letter banning the party's planned celebrations.
Police last week issued a ban on all protests in the capital for the next two weeks.
The notice cited a lack of manpower to prevent disorder. It said that demonstrations would only be allowed after September 16.
The notice also stated that anyone taking part in protests before then could be imprisoned for up to a year. Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in the past weeks, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.
Source - Byo24News
