MDC notifies police of another protest march
By Tichaona Sibanda
24 January 2008

MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti on Thursday said his party had written a letter to the Police notifying them that they are organising another peaceful, non-violent march to take place in the capital city soon.
Biti told Newsreel that since POSA and AIPPA were amended they are no longer required to apply for permission to hold rallies but are now simply ‘notifying’ them in advance.

‘Yes it’s true, we are having another protest march soon and we have notified the police,’ said Biti.
This was also reiterated by Tsvangirai who briefed diplomats in the capital Thursday, where he said that freedom marches were going to be held countrywide in the next few weeks.

On the issue of the ongoing inter-party dialogue, Tsvangirai said the situation on the ground was abundant evidence that the ruling party was not sincere in the process. He said there had been a deadlock in the SADC-brokered talks on the political environment, the transitional constitution and the election date.

He added that the MDC would only be willing to participate in a free and fair election. He said the appropriate organs of the party would make the final decision, but whatever that decision is, it is already clear that the next election will be ‘contestable and illegitimate.’

Commenting on government’s unusually quick response in denying reports that Tsvangirai was arrested, Biti laughed at the suggestion and described it as ‘nonsense.’

‘Firstly to suggest that someone who is normal and reasonable can wake himself up at 3am and voluntarily go and attend a meeting at the ZRP law and order headquarters, I think that’s a lie with no sophistication. It’s a lie that is crude, and shows and reflects on the person that is making it,’ Biti said.

He reiterated that Tsvangirai was arrested, and that he did not go there voluntarily. The police came and took him from his house. The state media The Herald on Thursday urged the opposition to respect the country’s sovereignty and the spirit of the SADC initiated dialogue.

Human rights lawyer Gabriel Shumba disagreed, and said ‘If there are people who are eroding the country’s sovereignty and not respecting the spirit of the SADC led dialogue it is Zanu-PF and not the opposition.’ He explained that the majority of Zanu-PF’ officials have secret financial havens which they use to launder money. He said this has steadily corroded the foundations of the nation-state and not the opposition.