Opposition parties unfazed with demo ban

Opposition parties and civil society groups have vowed to defy the latest police ban on peaceful demonstrations in Harare, saying the order violated the Constitution and therefore was of no legal force.

MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said that his party would disregard the prohibition order announced by the police on Monday and continue with his planned demonstrations.

PDP's spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the ban could push the nation to the brink of civil war.

Meanwhile, opposition parties under the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) have vowed to continue piling pressure on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to level the political playing field after their Monday meeting ended in a deadlock.

Nera head of legal affairs Douglas Mwonzora yesterday accused Zec of working with the State security apparatus to frustrate the implementation of critical electoral reforms.

Mwonzora said electoral reforms were not issues that Zec would put to vote during meetings with political parties, but were legal matters recognized by the Constitution. Nera convener Didymus Mutasa said Nera would continue to hold regular meetings to strategize.