Police have barred the opposition United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) party from holding a meeting at a private venue in Harare on Sunday, citing concerns over potential demonstrations in the central business district (CBD).
UZA, led by Elisabeth Valerio—the only female presidential candidate in the 2023 election—had notified the police of its plans to convene a meeting on 29 September 2024 at the Bronte Hotel on Baines Avenue.
In response to UZA’s notification, Chief Superintendent M. Mumanyi, the Officer Commanding Harare Central District, issued a letter dated September 27, 2024, advising the party that the meeting could not proceed. Wrote Mumanyi:
<blockquote>
Receipt of your notification letter to hold a political meeting on the 29th of September 2024 at Bronte Hotel, Baines Avenue, Harare is hereby acknowledged.
This office however regrets to notify that due to threats of demonstrations in the CBD. your intended meeting is not recommended in the meantime.
</blockquote>
Valerio accused the police of acting in a partisan manner, saying a ZANU PF affiliate is hosting a political launch event at the City Sports Centre without any restrictions whilst UZA has been blocked from holding a meeting at a private venue. She said:
<blockquote>
What threat does UZA pose at a private venue with our peaceful patriots? Ironically a ZANU PF affiliate is hosting a political launch event at the City Sports Centre with no restrictions relating to threats of protests.
This latest blow comes less than 48 hours after the National Multi-Stakeholder Post-Election Review Conference hosted by ZEC, during which concerns about fairness were raised.
Opposition parties are repeatedly denied the right to assemble under the guise of “security concerns,” while privileged parties face no such restrictions. It is troubling that this inequality continues!
</blockquote>
Under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPO), political parties must notify the police before holding public meetings or processions.
A notice of five days is required before any public meeting. The convenor must provide the police with specific details about the event, including the contact number of the designated convenor, the venue, the time, the purpose of the event, the number of marshals, and the anticipated number of participants.
Failure to provide this notice can result in charges, fines, or imprisonment for up to one year.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The police stopped the UZA party from having a meeting in Harare because they were worried about protests. The party leader, Elisabeth Valerio, said it's not fair because another party can have an event without any problems. People need to tell the police before having a meeting. If they don't, they can get in trouble. This rule is to keep things safe. It's important for everyone to follow the rules and be fair to everyone.

Police Block UZA Meeting In Harare

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has banned a planned protest march by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) which had been scheduled to take place in Bulawayo on Monday.
The Nelson Chamisa-led party said the demonstration was called to protest “an unfair election and the failure to respect the people’s votes through illegal recalls of elected representatives.”
CCC intended to hold a “peaceful demonstration” to petition the Minister of State and Devolution for Bulawayo Province at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex on 23 October from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPO), Organisers of public gatherings are required to notify the police and the police can either give them the green light to continue or prohibit the planned gathering.
In a letter to conveners of the protest, dated 18 October 2023, Chief Superintendent Vusumuzi Nkomo confirmed receiving the CCC’s notification on 16 October but said it (the notification), did not comply with certain provisions of the MOPO Act.
Chief Superintendent Nkomo, however, did not explain which provisions the notification did not meet.
In response to the banning of the planned protest, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi wrote on X:
<blockquote>
We want to demonstrate our commitment to the law and we will exhaust every channel permissible in a democratic society.
When all has failed, we will then come to you- The Citizens- to say Citizens, we have done everything permissible in a democratic society, it’s OVER to you now, to take matters into your own hands and liberate your country.
We will no longer be responsible or answerable from then on. This country will be freed, order, sanity and normality will be restored soon.
</blockquote>
Since its formation in early 2022, the CCC claims over 100 of its meetings, including campaign rallies, have been banned by the police.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police Ban CCC Demonstration Planned For Bulawayo On 23 October

The leader of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party (ZTP), Parere Kunyenzura, has been convicted of contravening the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act in an incident that occurred in 2022.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Kunyenzura (52), a bishop of Mirirai Jehovha Apostolic Church, has been convicted of contravening the MOPO Act after he allegedly convened a gathering in 2022 and led an unsanctioned procession of his church members.
The group was allegedly protesting and singing a gospel song with the lyrics “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to “Emmanuel save us from bondage”. Added ZLHR:
<blockquote>
During the trial, which was presided over by Harare Magistrate Tafadzwa Miti, prosecutors alleged that Parere convened an illegal gathering on 9 July 2022 and led an unsanctioned procession of his church members as they marched along Robert Mugabe Way towards Simon Muzenda Street in central Harare, while protesting and singing gospels song with the lyrics “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to “Emmanuel save us from bondage”.
Prosecutors claimed that Parere led a procession of his church members without notifying the regulating authority, which is ZRP.
In his defence, Parere’s lawyer, Evans Moyo of [ZLHR], had asked Magistrate Miti to set his client free arguing that under MOPO Act, the nature of the gathering which he was accused of convening is exempted as an offence as it is a religious gathering.
In convicting Parere, Magistrate Miti ruled that the clergyman had breached the MOPO Act as the piece of legislation only exempts gatherings and not processions from being considered offences.
Magistrate Miti ruled that a procession such as the one allegedly led by Parere is not a gathering and stated that she believes that the procession by the congregants was not a bonafide religious gathering but a protest given the lyrics to the song “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to mean “Emmanuel save us from bondage”.
</blockquote>
Kunyenzura claimed God ordained him as the next President of Zimbabwe when he launched the party in May 2022.
He said neither President Emmerson Mnangagwa nor his biggest challenger, Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition CCC, will win the 2023 presidential election.
Kunyezura warned state security agencies not to try to thwart what “God” has ordained.

Bishop Kunyenzura Convicted Of Contravening MOPO Act

The Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPO) was last week passed by both Houses of Parliament, that is, the National Assembly and the Senate.
The Bill was approved by the National Assembly on Thursday 29th August.
It will now be sent to the President for his assent and gazetting as an Act.
The final text of the Bill, including all the amendments, is available on the <a aria-label="Veritas website (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.veritaszim.net/node/3666" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Veritas website</a>.

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