MDC Alliance leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa has threatened to
unleash more violence in the streets after yesterday’s planned illegal
demonstrations failed to take off following a prohibition notice isued by the
police.
The police invoked the Public Order and Security Act and
issued a prohibition notice against the intended demonstration after the
regulatory authority gathered intelligence that the demonstrations would
degenerate into violence.
The ban was eventually confirmed by the High Court after it
dismissed an application by the MDC Alliance challenging the prohibition.
Addressing journalists yesterday, Mr Chamisa remained
intransigent after he vowed that he would continue with a wave of illegal
demonstrations across the country.
“We are clear that this is a long winter of discontent and
expression of ourselves. It is not going to be a walk in the park, it is not
instant coffee, it is not going to be an easy because it is a struggle. It is
the people’s struggle. We are going to pursue every avenue, there is not going
to be any rest until the people of Zimbabwe achieve a people’s Government. A
people’s Government is going to be a creature of a settlement that has to come
through comprehensive reforms, through a transition mechanism through an
understanding that a roadmap we put on the table is followed,” said Mr Chamisa.
“Yes, you are going to see more of the action, peaceful
action in other cities and in Harare. In fact this is not the end, it is a
beginning, what you are seeing is just a teaser, an introduction, we are going
to be in the street until the State responds to the streets because hunger,
poverty is on the streets so we want to activate the streets until the
resolution is achieved.
“We have multiple million steps to take, we are clear in
terms of the next course of action we are going to take, we will continue to
mobilise.”
Mr Chamisa repeated the same allegations of legitimacy of
the present Government despite the fact that the Constitutional Court together
with local, regional and international organisations gave approval of the July
30 harmonised elections which President Mnangagwa won.
Aggrieved by the presidential election result, Mr Chamisa
mounted a court challenge with the Constitutional Court in terms of the
Constitution which was eventually dismissed for lack of merit.
He has refused to accept both the election result and the
ConCourt ruling and has spurned a call for dialogue by President Mnangagwa.
Zimbabweans from all walks of life yesterday commended the
courts for upholding a ban on an intended MDC-Alliance demonstration saying
previous protests organised by the party had led to deaths and destruction of
property.
MDC-Alliance notified the police of their planned demonstration
on August 5 this year but the police issued an order prohibiting the event for
security reasons on Thursday.
The opposition party then filed an urgent application for
review of the order, which was thrown out by Justice Joseph Musakwa. The judge said the MDC-Alliance should have approached the
magistrates’ court first.
A few MDC-Alliance hooligans tried to disturb the peace in
Harare’s CBD but police were swift in dispersing them.
Mr Christopher Kamba who sells soft drinks in Harare’s CBD
also commended police for maintaining order in the city.
“These demonstrations affect our future and that of our
children, so the police have done a great job in maintaining peace and order.
We cannot have lawlessness in the country simply because someone wants to get
in power through unconstitutional means. We appeal to the law enforcement
agencies to keep their presence in town so that hooligans will not disturb our
operations,” he said.
Mr Abel Joseph Gurure, who is a vendor at Charge Office Bus
Terminus, said he was against demonstrations.
Youth chairman for Mbare vegetable market vendors
Simbarashe Chakarowa said that their business had been affected as only a few
customers that turned up yesterday.
“We are open as usual but today business is a bit low
because of few customers. We are selling perishable goods such as bananas,
potatoes, cabbages, which might be affected,” Mr Chakarowa said.
Mr Norest Mapfumo (25) also commended the police. Herald
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