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US demands constitutionalism
23 Jul 2019 at 18:55hrs | Views
United States Ambassador Brian Nichols has called on the Zimbabwean government to uphold the rights civil society as he met Pastor Evan Mawarire at the ES Embassy in Harare on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe has been on the spotlight recently over the arrest of members of civil society and death threats targeted at leaders of trade unions in the country.
"We support civil society in peacefully exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. We hope that these rights will be protected and upheld by the courts, in accordance with the constitution," said Nichols.
Mawarire who has been arrested on a number of occasions over various crimes including attempting to over throw the government paid tribute to the US Ambassador for his support.
"Thank you Ambassador Brian Nichols for your solidarity and the continued help that the United States Government continues to offer the people of Zimbabwe despite our many challenges. We unapologetically stand for a better Zimbabwe than what we have today," said Mawarire.
The US Ambassador's sentiments come at the back of calls for mass protests against the President Emmerson Mnangagwa led government by MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala.
Sikhala is out on bail after he was arrested and charged with seeking to unseat Mnangagwa after telling party supporters at a rally in Masvingo that they would overthrow the President before the expiry of his term in 2023. Ends
Zimbabwe has been on the spotlight recently over the arrest of members of civil society and death threats targeted at leaders of trade unions in the country.
"We support civil society in peacefully exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. We hope that these rights will be protected and upheld by the courts, in accordance with the constitution," said Nichols.
"Thank you Ambassador Brian Nichols for your solidarity and the continued help that the United States Government continues to offer the people of Zimbabwe despite our many challenges. We unapologetically stand for a better Zimbabwe than what we have today," said Mawarire.
The US Ambassador's sentiments come at the back of calls for mass protests against the President Emmerson Mnangagwa led government by MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala.
Sikhala is out on bail after he was arrested and charged with seeking to unseat Mnangagwa after telling party supporters at a rally in Masvingo that they would overthrow the President before the expiry of his term in 2023. Ends
Source - Byo24news
