The party had planned to stage demonstrations in the city
on Wednesday, ostensibly to pressure the government to resolve the prevailing
economic difficulties in the country.
But like in Harare last week, and Bulawayo and Gweru this
week, Masvingo residents and businesses ignored the MDC’s call for street
marches, and instead carried on with their normal routines, with shops and
banks open and trading.
“There were messages that were circulated yesterday
(Tuesday) about the demonstration, but there is nothing. All the shops are
open, and people are carrying on their business as usual,” a resident in the
city told New Ziana.
The planned street protests in Masvingo were part of a
series the MDC had planned in a number of towns and cities, starting with last
Friday’s banned march in Harare, and two others in Bulawayo and Gweru this week
which were also outlawed by the police and courts.
Apart from having largely been ignored by residents in
various cities, the planned demonstrations were banned on security grounds
after similar street protests by the party in the past led to an orgy of
violence in which lives were lost, property destroyed and shops and businesses
massively looted.
In some cities, for instance Bulawayo, residents,
businesses and civic organisations teamed up to petition the police and the
courts to outlaw the intended marches for fear of their safety.
Police spokesman, assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi told
New Ziana Masvingo was calm and peaceful, with no incidents or disturbances
reported by mid-day on Wednesday.
He said like elsewhere, police had issued a prohibition
order against the marches in the city to prevent possible violence.
“The situation in Masvingo is calm and peaceful. People are
going about their various social and economic activities. We urge citizens to
report any acts of lawlessness such as intimidation and people who disturb the
smooth flow of traffic,” he said.
The MDC, which refuses to accept defeat in last year’s
presidential election, is widely suspected of having planned to use the street
protests to unseat the government from power.
Ahead of the demonstrations, the government said it
suspected a third force to be behind the plans, and it later emerged US Embassy
officials, including the ambassador, held meetings with top MDC officials on
the eve of the marches in Harare last week.
The United States has retained its two decade hostile
posture towards Zimbabwe, despite a change of government and Harare’s overtures
to open a new page in relations between the two countries.
New Ziana
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