Government has said it will not allow anarchy in the
country and those found on the wrong side of the law will face their day in
court, amid revelations that opposition parties want to use their July 31
illegal demonstrations to change the national order.
Opposition parties, including the MDC-Alliance, working
with NGOs and sponsored by some Western embassies want to engage in violent
demonstrations on July 31 which they had initially disguised as a march against
corruption.
This is despite the fact that the country is under a
national lockdown whose regulations include a ban on gatherings of large
numbers of people to prevent the transmission and spread of Covid-19.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information
Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, said the attempt to
overthrow a democratically elected Government is unlawful.
“The constitution allows people to demonstrate, register
discontent or peacefully protest against Government. If we were not under
Covid-19, we would have no problem with peaceful protests,” said Mr Mangwana
yesterday.
“But what we have are subversive plots to overthrow a
constitutional order. Now, that’s breaking the law and when the law is broken,
people have to face their day in court. The Government will not allow anarchy
to prevail over law and order.”
Transform Zimbabwe leader Mr Jacob Ngarivhume, one of the
orchestrators of the illegal demonstrations, exposed their plot on Sunday.
“People are asking if @edmnangagwa and Zanu-PF do the
sensible thing and step down to save millions of lives, who will take over? I
want to stress that #31July is the people’s project. It should not be hijacked
for political gain,” posted Mr Ngarivhume on Twitter.
“I believe the church and civil society will play an active
role in facilitating the process of setting up a National Transitional
Authority (NTA) that will guide Zimbabwe towards a new and exciting era.”
Reacting to Mr Ngarivhume’s post on the same platform, Mr
Mangwana said: “The cat is out of the bag. It’s not about corruption. It’s an
unconstitutional plan to seize power and give it to the unelected.”
In any case, Mr Mangwana said, the plot to cause violence
and chaos in the country is not shared in other parts of the country.
“Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to different
parts of the country on duty. #Covid19Zim is definitely a concern. Clearly this
31 July conversation is purely a Harare thing. #HarareNotZimbabwe,” posted Mr
Mangwana.
Last Friday, President Mnangagwa warned rogue
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, churches and some foreign
embassies against destabilising prevailing peace, unity and harmony through
dabbling in politics, saying the ruling party will not allow such conduct.
Addressing the Zanu PF Ordinary Session of the Politburo,
at the party’s headquarters in Harare, the President said the Second Republic’s
re-engagement efforts with all nations should never be mistaken for a sign of
weakness, but signifies his Government commitment and value for international
solidarity based on mutual respect.
“We continue to see acts that seek to outrightly
destabilise the peace, unity and harmony we are enjoying, in particular through
the use of platforms in the health, education and security sectors.
“We shall never quiver or capitulate in the face of these
machinations. Zanu PF is a Revolutionary Party, a party of liberation, a party
with a rich ideology, history and a vision for the future. This character of
our party is stronger than any challenge we may face no matter from what front
or force,” said President Mnangagwa.
“I urge those who purport to represent workers to do just
that. It is a one-way traffic lane. Political ambitions and views belong to
another lane. Choose the lane you walk on. Those in politics must seek the
mandate of the people every five years, through the ballot box. That is the
constitutional way, that is the rule of law way, that is the democratic way.”
Chronicle
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