Police used tear smoke to disperse an unannounced
MDC-Alliance meeting at Dombotombo Clinic in Marondera yesterday after part of
the crowd, who had arrived in kombis, refused to disperse and continued
blocking patients from using the clinic.
After first engaging the party supporters and their
leadership to move away from the venue, because there had been no prior
notification as required, but without success, police were forced to use tear
smoke. Police deny there were any gunshots and said none of the police at the
venue possessed live ammunition or rubber bullets.
MDC-Alliance supporters immediately turned to social media
to claim that police had used live ammunition to disperse the gathering,
although there were no reports of injuries in these claims. In the video clip
being passed around there is the sound of a shot or backfire, but no police
officers are visible in the vicinity.
“Tear smoke canisters are usually fired from a short
barrelled launcher that makes a loud pop that can be mistaken for a shot at a
distance.
In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police
dismisses allegations that live rounds of rubber bullets were used or fired
when police officers in Marondera dispersed MDC supporters and activists this
afternoon who had illegally gathered at Dombotombo Clinic and some leaders
attempted to address the gathering without following the laid down notification
procedures in terms of the law.
“Police only used tear smoke to disperse the gathering and
politicians, with some who had been transported in kombis openly refusing to
comply with lawful orders which had been given by the police.”
Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public and activists
to comply with orders given by law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that
law and order was properly maintained by police without hassles.
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Mr Nick Mangwana told the Herald last night that no live bullets were
fired in Marondera, contrary to claims by MDC-Alliance supporters.
“It’s the usual opposition histrionics and dramatics.
(MDC-Alliance leader Nelson) Chamisa tried to have a rally in Dombotombo
Clinic, disrupting the delivery of care to the sick people there,” he said.
“Police were called in. At this point there were kombis
full of rowdy people who were very aggressive.
“They started surging towards the police in an aggressive
way. Police deployed tear smoke to disperse the people. There was no use of firearms
and none of the police details was armed with live ammunition,” he said.
Mr Mangwana added: “What we are dealing with here is
attention-seeking theatrics we have come to expect from an opposition which is
devoid of ideas and political programmes.”
MDC-Alliance MP for Marondera Central Caston Matewu pressed
claims that live bullets were used against supporters and leader Mr Chamisa
while he was conducting a tree planting programme.
Mr Chamisa’s spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda last night
said the police had been briefed of the tree planting event.
“Let there be no doubt that this event was not a political
gathering or a meeting but a tree planting event . . .” Herald
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