Opinion / Columnist
MDC speaks on Chibaya's treason trial
30 Jan 2019 at 12:49hrs | Views
The MDC condemns yet another arrest on National Organizing Secretary Hon Amos Chibaya.
The arrest came moments after his release on bail ordered by the High Court in Masvingo.
We view both arrests of the organizer to be political, they are all about persecution and nothing to do with prosecution.
The arrest is abuse of both law enforcement and the justice delivery system which is against the constitution.
Our national constitution gives Zimbabweans the right to make political choices. Secrion 67(2) provides for the right to ‘form, join and to participate in the activities of a political party or organization of their choice."
It is sad that the people of Zimbabwe including Hon Chibaya are being persecuted for exercising precisely this right.
Anyone who is outside Zanu PF is being arrested, this is unacceptable.
The use of both the judiciary and the police to persecute and suppress dissenting views is both undemocratic and unconstitutional.
The judiciary must be independent, its officers must be allowed to do their work without fear or favour ,they must be beyond reproach like Caesar's wife.
The MDC is glad that the legal fraternity in Zimbabwe made this point clear in a petition they handed over to the Constitutional Court yesterday.
On the other hand we urge members of the police service to abide by the conduct set out in section 208 of the constitution which among other things includes;-
1. Acting in accordance to the constitution
2. Not to act in a partisan manner
3. Not to further the interests and cause of any political party, in this case they are acting in cahoots with Zanu PF.
4. Not to prejudice the interests of any political party
5. Not to violate rights and freedoms of any person.
We see the temptation to restrict and redefine the rights enshrined in the constitution by the police. The police service has no power to redefine rights and attaching unlawful conditions to their exercise.
These violations are a clear indication of the need to establish the independent complains mechanism set out in section 210 of the constitution.
An attempt to force citizens to report violations of members of the security services to the police or the military police is unconstitutional.
No one has the power to substitute provisions of the constitution.
We demand the release of Hon Chibaya, MDC MPs, party members and any other soul being persecuted for reasons of political dissent.
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
The arrest came moments after his release on bail ordered by the High Court in Masvingo.
We view both arrests of the organizer to be political, they are all about persecution and nothing to do with prosecution.
The arrest is abuse of both law enforcement and the justice delivery system which is against the constitution.
Our national constitution gives Zimbabweans the right to make political choices. Secrion 67(2) provides for the right to ‘form, join and to participate in the activities of a political party or organization of their choice."
It is sad that the people of Zimbabwe including Hon Chibaya are being persecuted for exercising precisely this right.
Anyone who is outside Zanu PF is being arrested, this is unacceptable.
The use of both the judiciary and the police to persecute and suppress dissenting views is both undemocratic and unconstitutional.
The judiciary must be independent, its officers must be allowed to do their work without fear or favour ,they must be beyond reproach like Caesar's wife.
The MDC is glad that the legal fraternity in Zimbabwe made this point clear in a petition they handed over to the Constitutional Court yesterday.
1. Acting in accordance to the constitution
2. Not to act in a partisan manner
3. Not to further the interests and cause of any political party, in this case they are acting in cahoots with Zanu PF.
4. Not to prejudice the interests of any political party
5. Not to violate rights and freedoms of any person.
We see the temptation to restrict and redefine the rights enshrined in the constitution by the police. The police service has no power to redefine rights and attaching unlawful conditions to their exercise.
These violations are a clear indication of the need to establish the independent complains mechanism set out in section 210 of the constitution.
An attempt to force citizens to report violations of members of the security services to the police or the military police is unconstitutional.
No one has the power to substitute provisions of the constitution.
We demand the release of Hon Chibaya, MDC MPs, party members and any other soul being persecuted for reasons of political dissent.
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
Source - Online
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