One billboard on 15th Avenue, opposite the Zimbabwe
International Exhibition Centre, was seriously damaged, while the other in
Queens Park East Suburb was also vandalised.
CCC official Swithern Chirowodza described the acts as
arson claiming the suspects used petrol bombs, which should have attracted the
attention of police but that was not the case.
“The use of fires to destroy property would under normal
circumstances have attracted the attention of police and the army but it has
not. We have been watching the situation since morning and there has been no
reaction from the security sector. That on its own tells us a story,” he said
in an interview with CITE.
According to Chirowodza, the modus operandi which includes
the use of an accelerant in burning the billboards speaks to impunity by
assailants who presumably are immune to prosecution.
“The arson from our point of view, that is judging from the
debris left on the crime scene, is a notch above ordinary civilian capability,”
claimed the provincial spokesperson.
The provincial spokesperson added the destruction of opposition
billboards was not a new strategy, claiming such sabotage goes way back to 2008
with the assistance State agents.
“In 2008, (a party member -Helen Zivire but known as)
Tsepiso Mpofu was forced to swallow a whole campaign poster by the Central Intelligence Operatives (CIO)
stationed at Bulawayo’s Magnet House. We have always believed RIGHT OR WRONG
that sabotage and arsonists of property belonging to the opposition has the
backing of state security,” Chirowodza claimed.
Section 152 of the Electoral Act on the Destruction of
political posters, states that “Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall
be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such
imprisonment.”
“(1) Subject to subsection (2), from the date on which an
election is called until its result is declared, no person shall deface or
remove any billboard, placard or poster published, posted or displayed by a
political party or candidate contesting the election.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the removal or
defacement of a billboard, placard or poster by or at the direction of—
(a) the person who published, posted or
displayed it; or
(b) the owner or occupier of the land or
premises on which it is published, posted or displayed in contravention of
Section 153.”
Section 153 on Defacing property for political purposes
states “(1) Any person who, with the object of supporting or opposing any
political party, political cause or candidate, whether or not in reference to
any election, places any bill, placard, poster, pamphlet, circular or other
document, writing or painting on, or otherwise defaces, any house, building,
wall, fence, lamp-post, gate or elevator without the consent of the owner or
occupier thereof, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not
exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two
years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.” CITE
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