Bulawayo high court upholds churches' legal right to march

Tererai Karimakwenda
20 May 2006

There were many activities on Saturday in commemoration of the disastrous Operation Murambatsvina. But in Bulawayo, officials from the Christian Alliance and church groups were jubilant after a high court judge ruled that they had a legal right to organize a march. Their procession in remembrance of the internally displaced had been banned by the police who claimed they did not have enough manpower to control thousands of people. The decision came late on Friday and the procession got underway Saturday morning as planned. This was the first time a judge had ruled against the wishes of the police in a case involving freedom of assembly.

Useni Sibanda, a coordinator with the Christian Alliance and Bulawayo churches told us about 500 people turned up at St Patrick’s church in Makokoba and marched for more than 40 minutes into town. Despite the heavy presence of uniformed police and intelligence agents in plain clothes they sang and danced through Bulawayo streets. The only condition stipulated by the courts was that the procession route be altered slightly for security reasons.

Sibanda said this court decision was important because all other space has been closed by thegovernment. He believes it is the nature of the church’s work that allows it to be last pillar of defence. Sibanda said the Public Order and Security Act does not require the church to seek permission from the police. He said they are only required to notify the police for security reasons if crowds are to gather. The police have never respected this exemption, and they have blocked several similar processions in the past. Sibanda said the court made it clear that the church is independent and should be allowed to discharge its duties without interference.

There were several prayer meetings scheduled for Saturday evening around the country. A combined Harare/Chitungwiza prayer meeting sponsored by the Zimbabwe National Pastors Conference and The Christian Alliance was due to take place at the Evangelical church in St Marys.