Zimbabwean opposition parties vowed to go ahead with a massive demonstration in favour of electoral reforms in the country’s capital on Friday despite government warning they would face the full might of the law.
Eighteen parties‚ under the banner of National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) said on Thursday that 150 000 people were ready to march in Harare.
NERA Zimbabwe‚ using the twitter handle @NeraZimbabwe‚ said: “#NERAMEGADEMO Today we walk for our freedoms‚ we walk in the historic all Zimbabwe electoral reform march. We demand ZEC to be independent.”
NewsDay newspaper reported that an application seeking permission for the march to go ahead would be heard at the High Court in Harare on Friday.
Nera lawyer and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora‚ who took the matter to court‚ said: “The police never cited any other reason that they suspect there will be violence or that they have manpower shortage.
“This is a peaceful protest. In fact‚ 150 000 people are just very few compared to the (Zanu PF) million-man march which the police never said would disrupt traffic and was allowed by the same police.”
The newspaper reported that the march was against government’s reluctance to implement electoral reforms to level the political playing field ahead of the 2018 elections.
Government warned opposition parties against holding the demonstration‚ reported The Herald.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said organisers of the march would face the full might of the law. “I wish to remind Zimbabweans that the security ministries are mandated to maintain law and order and to protect life and property‚” he was quoted as saying.
He said government could not sit idly while the country was being torn apart by “foreign-sponsored agents”. – TMG Digital
Zim government warns ‘foreign-sponsored agents’ involved in mega demonstration in Harare
Zimbabwean opposition parties vowed to go ahead with a massive demonstration in favour of electoral reforms in the country’s capital on Friday despite government warning they would face the full might of the law.
Eighteen parties‚ under the banner of National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) said on Thursday that 150 000 people were ready to march in Harare.
NERA Zimbabwe‚ using the twitter handle @NeraZimbabwe‚ said: “#NERAMEGADEMO Today we walk for our freedoms‚ we walk in the historic all Zimbabwe electoral reform march. We demand ZEC to be independent.”
NewsDay newspaper reported that an application seeking permission for the march to go ahead would be heard at the High Court in Harare on Friday.
Nera lawyer and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora‚ who took the matter to court‚ said: “The police never cited any other reason that they suspect there will be violence or that they have manpower shortage.
“This is a peaceful protest. In fact‚ 150 000 people are just very few compared to the (Zanu PF) million-man march which the police never said would disrupt traffic and was allowed by the same police.”
The newspaper reported that the march was against government’s reluctance to implement electoral reforms to level the political playing field ahead of the 2018 elections.
Government warned opposition parties against holding the demonstration‚ reported The Herald.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said organisers of the march would face the full might of the law. “I wish to remind Zimbabweans that the security ministries are mandated to maintain law and order and to protect life and property‚” he was quoted as saying.
He said government could not sit idly while the country was being torn apart by “foreign-sponsored agents”. – TMG Digital
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