HARARE The two MDC parties in the ruling GNU have said they are proceeding to stage a rally and internal party meetings in Bulawayo and other areas on Saturday calling for more democracy, amid worries over unrest after the collapse of the government in Tunisia and Egypt.The pro-democracy MDC N and MDC T have both been refused permission to hold crucial party meetings last weekend and next weekend. But they both said they have decided to press ahead with the rally and meetings as planned.
MDC spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi said preparations for the Bulawayo rally slotted for Saturday were in progress despite the police ban.
“The Makokoba MDC rally pencilled for this weekend is still on despite the police ban. The Cabinet meeting of 1 March gave political parties the green light to hold rallies,” Chihwayi said. “MDC will defy the police ban.”
There are fears here that mounting public grievances over official theft, friction in the ruling coalition and economic stagnation could spark protests.
In Tunisia and Egypt, similar unrest sparked the overthrow of the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, whose 23 years in power ended with his flight to Saudi Arabia, and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. In light of this, police have moved to impose a ban on all MDC activities.
The MDC-T said it was “surprised” to learn that all its internal restructuring
processes were instantly classified as illegal gatherings in Bulawayo, Mashonaland West and East provinces last weekend with the police claiming to be under instructions to place Zimbabwe in state of “high alert.”
“The MDC pledges to raise the pace of its traditional challenge for democratic space with increased intensity following a decision by the police, on the instructions of Zanu (PF), to ban its in-house, national preparations for the party third congress,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.
The MDC holds its congress in two months time.
Unsurprisingly, Zanu (PF) has been allowed to proceed with its meetings countrywide, where it has been collecting signatures to justify the expropriation of Western companies operating in Zimbabwe. Staff reporter
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