Government has not banned marches or demonstrations that
are conducted in a peaceful manner and within the confines of the law, a
Cabinet Minister has said.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso
Moyo said people or organisations who made allegations of human rights abuse
were entitled to those views but such opinions were not consistent with what
was obtaining on the ground.
Minister Moyo said this in Senate on Thursday during a
question and answer session.
He was responding to a question from Manicaland Senator
Douglas Mwonzora (MDC Alliance), who wanted to know what the Government was
doing to address concerns particularly from the British Parliament, over the
human rights situation in the country, which is said to be an obstacle in
rejoining the Commonwealth.
“All we can say is that there has been a human rights
rapporteur who has been here and other personalities who have come to the
country and expressed their own different opinions as far as the situation is
concerned. What they say is their perception in as far as human rights abuses
are concerned. They believe that this Government has banned demonstrations for
good or something like that. As far as I know, it is not the policy of this
Government to ban peaceful marches and demonstrations — that is not the case,”
said Minister Moyo.
There have been claims from the MDC Alliance and civil
society organisations that the Government is closing the “democratic space”
through banning of marches and demonstrations.
The MDC-A has been making claims that its demonstrations
are being banned but the police have denied the allegations, saying whenever
that happens, they act within the confines of the law.
Last month, police had to disperse rowdy MDC-A youths who
chanted slogans, disrupted traffic and harassed vendors along Nelson Mandela
Avenue and First Street in Harare.
They had gathered outside Harvest House after the party had
cancelled a rally approved by police in the open area near the Exhibition Park
and opted for the party headquarters.
Police ordered the party’s supporters to assemble inside
the venue and vacate the streets but they defied the order.
The police intervention then came after the rowdy
supporters continued waving placards, singing and chanting before the arrival
of party leader Nelson Chamisa.
Some shops in the surrounding area were temporarily closed
and only reopened after police intervention. Herald
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