MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will on Wednesday make an address
to the nation from Harare’s Africa Unity Square in what could be a test to
police, who are being accused of effectively banning the opposition party
gatherings.
Chamisa’s “hope of the nation address” will be done in
front of party supporters and diplomats, his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda
said.
He said police were yet to clear the event.
“Yes, I can confirm that the president will give his ‘hope
of the nation address on Wednesday at the Africa Unity Square. The address is
set to be attended by church leaders, diplomats, women, children and other
political parties,” he said.
“Having the meeting at the Africa Unity Square is important
because he is addressing the country, Africa and the world.
“So there is no obvious reason to anticipate that the
police will block the address.”
Police have sanctioned only one out of 10 MDC rallies that
were scheduled across the country.
“The MDC looks like a banned organisation in Zimbabwe,”
Sibanda said. “Nine out of 10 rallies have been banned by the police. Our
rallies are literally banned everywhere.
“We now have what appears to be a competitive authoritarian
regime and I am sure the greenlight given to today’s rally (in Harare) is aimed
at creating a façade that there is democracy in the country.
“We are in a worse situation than during the late former
president Robert Mugabe, at least he would not ban everything as it were.”
He said police appeared to have banned MDC activities,
especially in Harare. They have lately been seen camping outside the MDC party
headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai building in the capital.
“That in itself, makes the MDC appear like a banned party
,” he said. Chamisa, who was in Sweden, is expected back home on time
to address a rally in Mabvuku today. Standard
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