Police extend ban on political rallies in Harare

By Lance Guma
25 May 2007

Police have banned rallies and demonstrations in 4 districts of Harare until the 23rd June citing what they called ‘recent disturbances.’ Police spokesman Andrew Mandipaka told journalists they wanted to avoid problems such as the looting and bombing of police stations, an excuse used to effect the first ban in February this year. The ban expired on the 20th May and the extension has taken many by surprise, given that security forces have been on the offensive abducting and torturing opposition activists.

Areas covered by the extended ban include Mbare District, Harare Suburban, Harare South, and Harare Central. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that for some strange reason the district that covers areas like Mabvuku, a traditional hotbed of opposition demonstrations, has not been included in the ban. The MDC recently launched operation ‘free them now’ to put pressure on the government to release 32 of its officials locked up in Harare’s remand prison for over 2 months. The exercise is said to include extensive diplomatic lobbying regionally and internationally to put pressure on Mugabe’s regime.

It’s not known however if there is a link between the MDC campaign and the renewed police ban. The opposition party has been putting posters around the country with the names of all the officials in jail and there are fears in government circles this could galvanise MDC supporters into action. A legal challenge to the first police ban declared in February is still awaiting a ruling by the country’s courts. The MDC has in the past argued the ban constitutes an undeclared state of emergency and preceded a brutal attack on its leadership, including their President Morgan Tsvangirai.