Full Text: MDC Accuses ZRP Of Illegal Attempt To Block Anniversary Meeting, Says ZRP Has No Business Dealing With Health

6 years agoThu, 13 Sep 2018 06:53:37 GMT

Full Text: MDC Accuses ZRP Of Illegal Attempt To Block Anniversary Meeting, Says ZRP Has No Business Dealing With Health

The opposition MDC has not reacted well to the ban on all public gatherings by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The MDC is alleging that the police is being used by Zanu-PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to interfere with the opposition’s plans for a rally to commemorate the MDC’s 19th Anniversary. The opposition wanted to use the occasion to “inaugurate” Nelson Chamisa as the people’s president. We publish the statement in full below,

Press Statement Agoraphobic Mnangagwa Interferes with Police on MDC Anniversary

Earlier yesterday the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received full permission from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to go ahead with its planned gathering for its anniversary on Saturday the l5`” of September 2018. However, by mid-morning President Nelson Chastise visited cholera-affected areas in Glen View, Harare, meeting with patients and health professionals and assessing the response to the outbreak. The President witnessed for himself the situation and tasked the Harare Mayor to do everything possible to deal (with) any challenges and called on the government to play a positive role. He also invited other stakeholders to chip in and provide assistance as necessary.
By the time the President was about to live the clinic, the perimeter was thronged by tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who had got wind of the President Nelson Chemise’s presence. These citizens were requesting to be addressed by the President and chanting, `The People’s President!’ The President progressed to Budiriro where he visited families that were mourning their loved ones. As he made his way to the first home-visit throngs of Zimbabweans once again quickly gathered around the venue again chanting, `The People’s President’.
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At this time there were reports that cars belonging to the military intelligence had deployed in the area, which did not bother citizens. It was not long after that Harare also saw the deployment of military helicopters, that circled the city. This was followed by the deployment of the ZRP spokesperson to issue a statement banning all public events including the one that the MDC had received permission for. The statement used Cholera as an excuse, although it is clear that this epidemic is currently limited to and contained within specific areas of Harare.
Between the issuance of permission by ZRP and its cancellation was the evidence of tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who thronged the streets in Glen View to talk to President Chamisa. Illegitimate governments are always fully threatened by citizens and fear seeing them together. These illegal attempts by ZRP to cancel events on health grounds are an excuse for ZANU PF’s fear of citizens. They clearly show that President Mnangagwa knows that he lost the election and is operating this country on the bases of martial law and perpetual state of emergency to protect himself from democracy.
ZRP has no business declaring health emergencies as this should be the preserve of health professionals and institutions. It is not clear why the ZRP is dealing with issues of health. Even then, is this a vote of no confidence in the Minister and Ministry of Health of this illegitimate government? President Mnangagwa must be worried by overreliance on a militarised form of government to protect illegitimacy. We all know too well what happens when people’s rights are readily abused by dictators. We know how such dictators end up running countries that are unstable and economies that are stagnant. We know how this turned out for former President Mugabe.
Scared by its illegitimacy the Mnangagwa government then ordered the ZRP to cancel our l 9th Anniversary celebrations after realising that President Chamisa pulling tens of thousands of people into the streets. The numbers on the streets of Glen View and Budiriro were a clear sign of things to come at Gwanzura Stadium. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans are expected to overrun the stadium this weekend.
We call upon President Mnangagwa’s illegitimate government to stop fearing the people of Zimbabwe. This government must remember that, no matter what it does, the fate of this country is in the hands of the people of Zimbabwe. They are the final court and judges.
President Mnangagwa should not live in unending fear, there is a solution, to his BP raising crisis. Which is to restore this country to legitimacy by releasing the ZEC server results and allowing an elected government to assume office. In light of this, the MDC leadership is considering available option in the best interests of our country and the need for a legitimate, stable and reliable government.