Police ordered to stop rally bans
Grace Moyo
Top echelons of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have instructed commanders to stop arbitrary bans on opposition rallies, following an outcry from Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) whose rallies have either been controversially banned or given stringent conditions to follow.
A memorandum sent to the commanders urged them to “ensure that political parties are allowed to hold rallies unless there are valid reasons to warrant such rejections.” They were further advised to that decisions to ban rallies should only be reached after “thourougly consulting.”
The police hierachy noted incidences where the opposition has claimed to have been denied the right to convene rallies by the police resulting in disputes.
“These skirmishes are discrediting the electoral process…Regulating authorities are urged to thoroughly consult before coming up with decisions to deny any political player opportunity to hold a rally or meeting.”
“Commanders should note that for elections to be deemed free, fair, peaceful and credible, the playing field should be reckoned as level, hence the police actions should not discredit the electoral processes.”
The signal was sent to officers commanding police provinces, officer commanding support unit, director (CID), and director (police intelligence).
The latest in a series of bans and tough conditions dealt to the CCC was its intended launch rally which had been slated for Sunday in Bindura. Police banned the rally citing venue unsuitability.
