ZIMBABWE’s rule of law is sacrosanct and is not tailored to
please other countries or one particular group of people but all citizens,
President Mnangagwa has said.
The President said the law is there for the good of the
country and that all citizens and organisations operating in the country should
abide by the law regardless of their standing.
He said this while responding to European Union Head of
Delegation, Mr Timo Olkkonen, who was trying to smuggle in issues of human
rights abuse during the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and National
Prosecuting Authority Anti-Corruption Awareness Campaign launch in Harare
yesterday.
Diverting from his prepared keynote address, President
Mnanagwa shot back saying: “Your Excellency (Mr Olkkonen) you referred to human
rights. However, this platform was for corruption. May I urge civil society to
restrict themselves to their mandate.
“The rule of law observance is not needed for the purposes
of pleasing other countries, we need it because it is proper for ourselves.”
Mr Olkkonen had spoken in support of MDC-Alliance
supporters who took to the streets to demonstrate, despite a police Prohibition
Order which was upheld by the High Court.
President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic had created
democratic space which should not be abused.
“The Second Republic has brought about enhanced democratic
space, it is for the good of our people. The few who abuse the democratic
space, the rule of law will apply,” he said.
During his speech, Mr Olkkonen had claimed there were
recent developments in Zimbabwe that brought constitutionalism and the respect
for the rule of law into question.
“People’s civic rights, such as the right of assembly, and
the right to peacefully demonstrate and petition and also the right to due
legal processes when suspected of crimes must be respected. Zimbabwe must show
that it genuinely has made a break from the past,” he said.
On Tuesday, Government hit back at Western countries after
they issued a statement which appeared to condone violent behaviour of the
Zimbabwean opposition, while condemning authorities’ stance against
lawlessness.
Government described a statement issued by Heads of Mission
of the Delegation of the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Greece, the
Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and the Heads of Mission
of Australia, Canada and the United States of America as portraying “intrusive
and judgmental attitude”.
Last Friday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) dispersed
groups of MDC-Alliance supporters who took to the streets to demonstrate
despite a police Prohibition Order which was upheld by the High Court.
The opposition had applied to hold a demonstration on
August 16 in Harare, while other demonstrations — seen as a way to unseat the
constitutional Government through lawlessness — were slated for other cities
and towns, but authorities turned the application down. Herald
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