KweKwe police chief disregards changes to POSA and AIPPA

By Tichaona Sibanda
29 February 2008

The police chief for KweKwe district in the Midlands, Chief Superintendent Charles Chagonda, has said he doesn’t recognise changes made to POSA and AIPPA.

At a meeting with all candidates for the parliamentary, senatorial and council elections in the Midlands town recently, the police chief reportedly told them he had the power to dictate what laws should be used in KweKwe.

MDC legislator for the town, Blessing Chebundo, said Chagonda made it clear he was not going to follow the amended new laws, which were signed into law by Robert Mugabe in January.

‘It’s a mockery of parliament that a police officer, whose job is to make sure people follow the rules, breaks them wantonly,’ Chebundo said.
He added; ‘He has unilaterally banned all gatherings in the town and how do you meet your supporters?’

The police chief went further and warned the candidates that whoever broke his strict code would rot in prison. And true to his word, on Tuesday seven MDC official were arrested in the town after holding peaceful door-to-door campaigns. Five were released on Wednesday. The remaining two were only released Thursday.

According to changes made to POSA and signed into law, those who intend to organise public meetings, political rallies or demonstrations have to appeal to a magistrates’ court if the regulating authority (police) prohibit them from holding the planned meetings or demonstrations. Before, they were required to appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs.

Police would be required to enter into dialogue with the organisers of the gathering before prohibiting the meeting from taking place. Prior to this organisers were required to give seven days’ written notice ahead of planned gatherings, to a senior police officer designated as the regulatory authority for the area concerned.

‘It is clear that instead of following the rules, he’s bending them to suit his masters. But we are not surprised because these are the same people who were ordered by their boss (Commissioner Chihuri) to make sure the opposition is desrupted from carrying out its campaign activities across the country,’ Chebundo said.