MDC-T rallies cancelled at the last minute

MDC-T rallies which were scheduled to take place over the weekend in Mashonaland West were cancelled at the last minute after police reportedly ordered the party to seek clearance from chiefs and headmen, the party on Sunday.

The MDC-T was due to conduct peace rallies at Kazangarare, Kenzamba and Makonde districts dubbed "Real Change Peace rallies" which were to be addressed by party secretary-general Tendai Biti and other top officials.

Mashonaland West, President Robert Mugabe's home province, is a Zanu PF stronghold and has been largely a "no-go area" for other political parties.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said: "We find that totally outrageous and unacceptable. The MDC will fight the decision."

Party organising secretary Nelson Chamisa added that the MDC-T would go ahead with the planned rallies countrywide including Mashonaland West province.

"It is an indirect way to ban the MDC from holding rallies. Our rallies will continue across the country and we will not be tempted to bring our good chiefs into politics. We cannot cancel rallies on the basis of illegality. Chiefs should not be political. We know these are antics of desperation from Zanu PF. We will not succumb to Mickey Mouse tactics," Chamisa said.

Wilson Makanyaire MDC-T Mashonaland West organising secretary told NewsDay yesterday that police refused to sanction the rallies, saying MDC-T had to get clearance from traditional leaders in areas under whose jurisdiction the rallies would be conducted.

The police also demanded that the party be cleared by rural district councils before the rallies could proceed, Makanyaire said.

"Police are deliberately shutting democratic space by telling MDC-T to seek authority from chiefs, headmen and rural district councillors, who are known Zanu PF sympathisers.

"There is no provision under the Public Order and Security Act where it is stipulated that we need clearance from all these quarters. In essence, police have banned our rallies," he said.

However, provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said he was not aware of the "ban".

Another gathering scheduled for Murombedzi on August 16 was also doubtful. The party was planning to re-convene a rally at the business centre after last month's bloody disturbances by Zanu PF supporters.

The skirmishes resulted in the injury of eight MDC-T supporters and damages to two party vehicles.
MDC-T and Zanu PF activists clashed over the use of Gonzogusha grounds at Murombedzi, which is a stone's-throw from Mugabe's homestead.

Earlier, Biti was forced to hold a rally in a bush near a graveyard after soldiers allegedly occupied Darwendale Stadium. Zanu PF youths reportedly went wild, bringing down tents, tearing MDC-T posters and even burning the grass around the venue.

Instances of violence have been on the increase as the country edges towards a watershed election to end the inclusive government, in place since 2009 after disputed polls marred by State-sponsored violence.