This legislation has been abused since its enactment to block freedom of association and free political activity. If we go for elections with this piece of legislation, I am afraid we will not be free in the exercise of our democratic right.
I have just escaped a 12-month jail term for contravening section 25 of POSA. I assume that you have heard much about my little but fervent attempts to bring peace and political co-existence in Kwekwe.
I should be bringing good news to you, informing how the youths with whom I work are responding to my spirited efforts, but alas the conditions are just not good for good news. I was arrested last year in November and after successive court appearances, I was slapped with a 12-month sentence with six moths suspended.
Thieves and murderers are moving scot free, while your innocent son has to suffer for agitating for peace in the community! The very same peace that you and other departed and living sons of the soil labour for is being snatched away. It is out of the overwhelming support form colleagues and relatives that I managed to pay the $500 fine and escape jail. My crime was to gather the people of Kwekwe and preach the gospel of peace as well educating them to shun political violence and respect each other – regardless of their political affiliations.
The meeting was held on November 16 2011 at Kwekwe Theatre. A notification letter was delivered to Inspector Mbedza of Kwekwe Central Police Station. The police decided to come and disrupt the meeting and arrest me, accusing me of holding it without their written permission.
The meeting was an inter- party gathering and no political or defamatory statements were uttered.
According to your speeches at the Heroes Day celebrations this year and at the just ended 2nd All Stakeholders Conference you preached peace and highlighted that people were free to support a political party of their choice. I applauded your speech Mr President.
Therefore, I write to ask you to remove POSA completely to allow freedom of association. Ian Smith used the Law and Order Maintenance Act to block freedom of association among Africans in Rhodesia. I understand this is one of the reasons why you went to fight the liberation struggle. I do not understand why such a legislation is still being used in a free Zimbabwe. Had it not been for my friends raising money and my little savings I would be rotting in prison Mr President.
Since the enactment of POSA, how many people from your political party have been arrested and convicted under this law? I have seen many human rights activists and politicians from opposition parties being arrested and incarcerated for contravening POSA. But how many of Chipangano’s hooligans have been arrested for contravening the same law?
They (Chipangano) can converge on Parliament and beat up legislators, burn and vandalise properties in Mbare, demonstrate or do their meetings without notifying the police but they go scot free. Baba kana mune chokwadi kuti muri kutsigira sarudzo dzakasununguka muZimbabwe ndanga ndichikumbirawo mubvise POSA tisununguke munyika yechipikirwa. – Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo, KweKwe
Post published in: Letters to the Editor