Police ban MDC demonstration

By Lance Guma
21 January 2008

The capital city was reported to be tense Monday after police banned a demonstration calling for a new constitution, planned by the MDC for Wednesday. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel their successful weekend rallies had made the police rethink their position on granting them permission in the first place. He vowed the MDC would press ahead with the march, despite the police ban. Last week the opposition announced it would launch a series of protests about the crumbling economy, with demands for a new constitution and a fresh voter’s roll to ensure free and fair elections.

The ban comes just days after government gazetted amendments to the Public Order and Security Act, that were supposed to make it difficult for the police to ban opposition rallies. The amendments had been dismissed as cosmetic by analysts, who said the government merely wanted to appear as if they were removing oppressive legislation ahead of the elections. The police ban now clearly shows that the government is not sincere in its dealings with the opposition.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti reportedly said they had shown good faith by asking for permission to hold the demonstration two weeks ahead of the event. Biti is quoted as saying: "In terms of the new law, the obligation of the organiser is to give at least seven days notice. We gave them notification on January 8 so we more than complied with the new provisions."

Police are accusing the MDC of trying to use the march to promote lawlessness on the streets of the capital. In a letter written to the MDC the police claim to have information the march will be disrupted. Chamisa dismissed this as nonsense and pointed to the hypocrisy of the police in allowing war veterans to demonstrate in support of Mugabe while blocking the opposition from having their own march. Other sources say electricity, water and cash shortages have made the country ripe for a revolt and the authorities are worried the demonstration might escalate into something major.

Chamisa said the police clearly underestimated their mobilisation and were now, ‘running scared.’ He said their members are raring to go, with some pledging to begin walking into town Tuesday evening to beat the transport problems on Wednesday. Tensions are high after mediated talks led by Thabo Mbeki collapsed last week. MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai has already insisted they will boycott the elections if there is no new constitution and a fresh voters roll. Zanu PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa retorted, ‘if the MDC want to boycott the elections, let them. Perhaps they're sensing defeat already.’ The stalemate remains, and the banning of Wednesday’s march is an ominous sign of more clashes to come.