Countrywide NCA demos against ban on meetings

By Violet Gonda
28 February 2007

Several activists from the National Constitution Assembly (NCA) were arrested on Wednesday during countrywide demonstrations. NCA chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku said the group was marching in defiance of the police ban on demonstrations and rallies. Scores of activists from the pressure group attempted to hold the street protests in the five major cities in the country, but as usual the police came down heavily on the peaceful demonstrators.

Madhuku said: “The position is that every part of the country where we had demonstrations –in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo – the demonstrators were able to march but for a short distance because there was heavy police clampdown. In some cases there were arrests.”

We were not able to get a comment from the police but an NCA statement said at least 50 NCA members were arrested in Harare, 25 in Mutare and on Tuesday 4 NCA leaders were arrested in Masvingo.

Although the state authorities imposed a blanket ban on political meetings and demonstrations last week, the rule seems only to apply to opposition parties and pressure groups.

The partisan and biased nature of Zimbabwe’s police force has been blatantly obvious in recent days as several opposition gatherings were violently blocked but a ZANU PF event in which party stalwarts gathered to celebrate their leader’s birthday was allowed to take place. Despite the ban on gatherings, Robert Mugabe was allowed to hold this event where he took the opportunity to make political statements lashing out at opponents. But public meetings by the Tsvangirai MDC and Mutambara MDC were blocked.

Observers say this clearly shows that Zimbabwe has become a one party state.

Dr Madhuku said: “It is quite clear to us that the police in Harare and Zimbabwe will continue to stand in the way of the people. And now if you are to respect what they say then you will just be simply accepting the oppression which is here.”

He said the laws and bans are simply oppressive instruments to ensure that Zimbabweans don’t fight for the creation of a democratic environment.

The pressure group, which is also campaigning for a people driven constitution, said it would defy any order or any movement by the government, which stands in their quest for freedom.

When asked about the effectiveness of the street protests that are constantly blocked by the police, Madhuku responded by saying if the momentum is kept, the state machinery will tire out. He said eventually the resistance would become more effective and teach the broader public that the way to go is through demonstrations.

But critics say that the pro-democracy movement has to co-ordinate efforts if they are to seriously weaken the regime. Madhuku agreed saying the problem at present was that the individual groups have different reasons for organizing resistance, hence the divergence of methods. He said for example the NCA focuses on a new constitution while others may focus on water shortages, or removing Robert Mugabe.

The outspoken civic leader said: “Once we agree on the methods of using demonstrations as the pressure point then it will be easier for us to come together.”