HARARE – Police in Harare have given the green light for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to hold its 19th anniversary celebrations in Harare, after the event was twice postponed at the police’s insistence.
The authorisation came after MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said Tuesday that police had been using an outbreak of cholera in Harare to disrupt their political programmes.
This time, he said, they would push ahead with the event with or without the police permission. Zanu PF rallies, churches, music concerns, graduation ceremonies and football matches were going ahead unimpeded, he said.
Now police have responded. The rally can go ahead – but with stringent conditions.
In a letter dated October 23 to the MDC, Harare South district police boss a Superintendent Chiroodza said police would hold the MDC leadership responsible for any outbreak of violence and damage to property.
“Your notification to hold the meeting has been noted subject to the strict observation of the following instructions,” Chiroodza wrote to Rhino Mashaya, who was listed as the convener and party’s organising secretary Amos Chibaya.
“You are expected to control the behaviour of your political party members before, during and after the celebrations. You should not alter the venue and time of your celebrations and should confine themselves to Gwanzura Stadium only and no other place.
“Your political members shall not intimidate passers-by and those who have nothing to do with your celebrations.
“Your members shall not be involved in toyi-toying, convoying of motor vehicles of people chanting, singing and disseminating hateful and defaming speeches.”
The police also want MDC marshals dressed in distinctive clothing and cooperation with law enforcement.
The government has been jittery over the event after some MDC officials hinted that it could involved a mock inauguration of Chamisa as president, after a bitterly disputed election in July which the 40-year-old lawyer insists he won.
The MDC was forced in September 1999 as a workers’ party, with its first leadership drawn from the trade unions. The party’s founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai died in February this year after growing the party into the biggest opposition to the Zanu PF government.
