Lawyers seek to overturn police ban on election debates

Rights lawyers have filed an ex-parte application at the Tredgold Magistrates' Court in Bulawayo, seeking to overturn a police ban on the holding of election debates in Midlands, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North.

The police blocked six election debates organised by Bulawayo Agenda in Gweru, Plumtree, Tsholotsho and Lupane.

The meetings, which were supposed to be held beginning early this week and up to next week, are meant to facilitate interface between various political party candidates running for parliamentary office from across the political divide and the public so as to promote citizen participation in elections.

The police told the organisers of the election debates that they were only allowing political parties to conduct their campaigns during the three weeks period leading to the harmonised elections as they do not have enough manpower to ensure public order at civic society meetings.