Opinion / Columnist
Demonstrations are counterproductive to the economy
06 Jul 2016 at 13:02hrs | Views
The new Constitution of Zimbabwe, Chapter 4, Section 58 article (1) reads, "Every person has the right to freedom of assembly and association, and the right not to assemble or associate with others. Section 59, of the same Chapter says "Every person has the right to demonstrate and present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully". So the new constitution is very clear on those people who might feel that they have anything against their superiors to either demonstrate or present petitions to them peacefully.
With the constitution clearly outlining what is supposed to be done by anyone thinking of holding a demonstration or presenting a petition of any sort to the authorities, it defies logic to hear that some individuals could turn themselves into thugs. It is naïve to indulge into violent activities when people would be demonstrating because violence destroys infrastructure which the government could have taken years to build. So it is good for Zimbabweans to respect what the constitutions stand for. Violence has no room to countries like Zimbabwe which has tested peace since the 1980s. So Zimbabweans should make sure that matters of negotiations must be prioritised before anything harming the economy is done.
It is a fact that the constitution makes it possible for every person to exercise his/her right to assemble or not to assemble and for that reason there is no need to disregard what the constitution stands for. In addition the same constitution gives an individual a right to demonstrate peacefully without violence. Such demonstrations which individuals are allowed to demonstrate have been clearly outlined by the constitution and they need to be carried out peacefully without coercing those against it to join the instigators of some demonstrations. Furthermore the constitution says that every person has a right to assemble and not to assemble. It is clear from the constitution that those who feel that they want to assemble should not force others to do the same. Those who feel that they want to demonstrate against either government or their employers should not do it violently.
The recent demonstrations by the alleged cross border traders that followed the introduction by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2016 which calls for regulation in the importation of basic commodities and building materials was not supposed to have gone like that. The SI number 64 only by individuals only needed individuals to import goods with licences but individuals misunderstood that as the SI number 64 meant to ban the importation of such goods into the country. Some people who have been surviving by importing basic commodities for resale in the country thought that the government has descended heavily on them as their perceived line of survival has been interrupted. They also thought that the government was not sincere by coming up with that SI number 64 at the time when the economy was not performing beyond expectations.
It is a fact that Zimbabweans have been suffering for a long time economically and their sufferings have made them to demonstrate as a means to force government to listen to their concerns. On the same vein some demonstrators have no right to destroy property in the name of forcing the government to listen to their concerns. Destroying other people`s property and also burning of cars would not make any sense as the move is counterproductive to the economic turnaround in the country. It is a fact that destroying any property is so easy but rebuilding such an infrastructure is a process which can take long and it is to cost to rebuild a destroyed infrastructure.
So the recent burning in Beitbridge of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) warehouse by the demonstrators should be condemned by all peace loving Zimbabweans. It was very unfortunate for the demonstrators to verge their anger on a building which also housed their impounded goods. Those who burned that warehouse could have known that through negotiations, the Zimra officials could have released their goods after payment of duty.
As if the Beitbridge burning of the Zimra warehouse by the demonstrators was not enough in Harare it was reported on Monday 04 July 2016 that some kombi drivers decided to pull off their vehicles in opposition to the alleged many roadblocks mounted by police during some pick up hours. Demonstrations of such natures were reported mostly in the eastern suburbs of Harare. Suburbs like Mabvuku, Tafara, Ruwa as well as Epworth were reported to have experienced such disturbances. As with the case with the social media pictures of burnt cars, barricaded roads using stones and logs were posted showing that the situations were turning ugly. The riot police was also seen in the social media running battles with the demonstrators.
While it is a right for some individuals to demonstrate as a way of showing their displeasures over anything they would have perceived to be against what they wanted but using violence during demonstrations was against the constitution. Every citizen should observe the rule of law and Zimbabwe cannot be a good country if its citizens go against the constitution. Actually observing and respecting what the constitution stand for is what makes a country look good and respectable by the international community.
Zimbabwe is dire need of the foreign direct investment and such investors favour to pour their money on a peaceful country. So if those who think that with violence they can achieve what they want, they need to be informed that violence scares away investors. With the country having unemployment rate in its double figures, there is need for all Zimbabweans to be united as to lure investors into the country.
Different of opinions and ideas by different people and organisations in the country should not lead to antagonistic situations leading to violence. Zimbabweans should learn to let negotiations solve problems so that this country remain peacefully. Zimbabwe is known for being peaceful in the whole SADC region and even in the African continent so such stability needs to be maintained. For that reason, Zimbabweans should desist from using violence whenever they are carrying out demonstrations so that the country remains peaceful.
With the constitution clearly outlining what is supposed to be done by anyone thinking of holding a demonstration or presenting a petition of any sort to the authorities, it defies logic to hear that some individuals could turn themselves into thugs. It is naïve to indulge into violent activities when people would be demonstrating because violence destroys infrastructure which the government could have taken years to build. So it is good for Zimbabweans to respect what the constitutions stand for. Violence has no room to countries like Zimbabwe which has tested peace since the 1980s. So Zimbabweans should make sure that matters of negotiations must be prioritised before anything harming the economy is done.
It is a fact that the constitution makes it possible for every person to exercise his/her right to assemble or not to assemble and for that reason there is no need to disregard what the constitution stands for. In addition the same constitution gives an individual a right to demonstrate peacefully without violence. Such demonstrations which individuals are allowed to demonstrate have been clearly outlined by the constitution and they need to be carried out peacefully without coercing those against it to join the instigators of some demonstrations. Furthermore the constitution says that every person has a right to assemble and not to assemble. It is clear from the constitution that those who feel that they want to assemble should not force others to do the same. Those who feel that they want to demonstrate against either government or their employers should not do it violently.
The recent demonstrations by the alleged cross border traders that followed the introduction by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2016 which calls for regulation in the importation of basic commodities and building materials was not supposed to have gone like that. The SI number 64 only by individuals only needed individuals to import goods with licences but individuals misunderstood that as the SI number 64 meant to ban the importation of such goods into the country. Some people who have been surviving by importing basic commodities for resale in the country thought that the government has descended heavily on them as their perceived line of survival has been interrupted. They also thought that the government was not sincere by coming up with that SI number 64 at the time when the economy was not performing beyond expectations.
It is a fact that Zimbabweans have been suffering for a long time economically and their sufferings have made them to demonstrate as a means to force government to listen to their concerns. On the same vein some demonstrators have no right to destroy property in the name of forcing the government to listen to their concerns. Destroying other people`s property and also burning of cars would not make any sense as the move is counterproductive to the economic turnaround in the country. It is a fact that destroying any property is so easy but rebuilding such an infrastructure is a process which can take long and it is to cost to rebuild a destroyed infrastructure.
So the recent burning in Beitbridge of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) warehouse by the demonstrators should be condemned by all peace loving Zimbabweans. It was very unfortunate for the demonstrators to verge their anger on a building which also housed their impounded goods. Those who burned that warehouse could have known that through negotiations, the Zimra officials could have released their goods after payment of duty.
As if the Beitbridge burning of the Zimra warehouse by the demonstrators was not enough in Harare it was reported on Monday 04 July 2016 that some kombi drivers decided to pull off their vehicles in opposition to the alleged many roadblocks mounted by police during some pick up hours. Demonstrations of such natures were reported mostly in the eastern suburbs of Harare. Suburbs like Mabvuku, Tafara, Ruwa as well as Epworth were reported to have experienced such disturbances. As with the case with the social media pictures of burnt cars, barricaded roads using stones and logs were posted showing that the situations were turning ugly. The riot police was also seen in the social media running battles with the demonstrators.
While it is a right for some individuals to demonstrate as a way of showing their displeasures over anything they would have perceived to be against what they wanted but using violence during demonstrations was against the constitution. Every citizen should observe the rule of law and Zimbabwe cannot be a good country if its citizens go against the constitution. Actually observing and respecting what the constitution stand for is what makes a country look good and respectable by the international community.
Zimbabwe is dire need of the foreign direct investment and such investors favour to pour their money on a peaceful country. So if those who think that with violence they can achieve what they want, they need to be informed that violence scares away investors. With the country having unemployment rate in its double figures, there is need for all Zimbabweans to be united as to lure investors into the country.
Different of opinions and ideas by different people and organisations in the country should not lead to antagonistic situations leading to violence. Zimbabweans should learn to let negotiations solve problems so that this country remain peacefully. Zimbabwe is known for being peaceful in the whole SADC region and even in the African continent so such stability needs to be maintained. For that reason, Zimbabweans should desist from using violence whenever they are carrying out demonstrations so that the country remains peaceful.
Source - Mukachana Hanyani
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