It's a right to demonstrate but.....

No one can deny that Zimbabwe is a democratic and peace loving country. It's true that real democracy prevails in Zimbabwe. Had it been that there is no democracy in the country, these chains of protests could not have taken place by any chance.

This week the country has witnessed a number of protests by different pressure groups and opposition parties. For various reasons among them demonstrating against the introduction of bond notes, the protesters were given permission to do so by the High Court.

Normally when protestors are permitted to demonstrate, they are first cleared by the security and given specific routes to follow when demonstrating, and this should be done peacefully.

Thus, any march in the street will usually require a permit, regulated time, place and manner of street marches to avoid traffic problems and protect public safety.  

Reports from the recent protests proved that people are ignorant of the law. After being granted the permission by High Court to march, the protestors were also athourised a certain route of march where they're supposed to follow during the course of their protest. However, these protestors decided to turn a deaf ear on the law and took their march to their preferred route, disrupting traffic along the way. In simpler terms, the protestors broke the law.

Even in most countries, people are only permitted to demonstrate at a given area or place, going against that will lead to an arrest. However, it is an embarrassment that it is those demonstrators who rush to say that they are being assaulted by security forces; while in actual fact they are failing to respect the law.

The ZRP should be commended for dismissing these protests as the people involved were taking the law in their own pockets. To be on a safe side, people should always abide by the law, since no one is above it. In future, any person or group of people wishing to protest should do so but in the lawful manner.

It is disgraceful that people go to the High Court and seek permission to stage a mass protest demanding a constitutionally elected government to step down.

Zimbabweans must be discouraged from joining such kind of meaningless protests. It is common knowledge that President Mugabe was elected through the ballot box; hence who ever think that he must be removed from power must wait until the next election.

It is known that organisers of these demonstrations are only singing for their supper. They are being motivated by funds from donors who are advocating for regime change in Zimbabwe. The general Zimbabweans are therefore being used to further the agenda of these sponsors.

Police should continue doing their duties especially of maintaining peace and order in the country.  Peace should continue prevailing in the nation. As wrongly claimed by detractors, Zimbabwe is not a lawless country.  Anyone who goes against the law should be severely punished.

In that regard, people should stop abusing their right to air their views through these demonstrations.

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Sibusisiso Ndlamini <sibusisondlamini@gmail.com