In a telephone interview with The Zimbabwean, Trust Chairperson Baster Magwizi said that the police had proved to be a huge obstacle to the successful implementation of the Conflict Transformation and Community Healing campaign, aimed at promoting peace and tolerance among communities ahead of elections.
He alleged the police were abusing the Public Order and Security Act to block his trusts’ campaigns. Section 25 of the Public Order and Security Act stipulates that a notice of seven days should be given to the police before the holding of public meetings.
As part of its peace campaign programme, the Trust is targeting Matabeleland North, Midlands, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Matabeleland South.
“The law enforcement agents are the ones who impose difficulties in our operations. They are subjecting us to draconian laws like POSA and some of our meetings get cancelled because they will tell you that you did not seek authority to hold the meetings.
“We have been seeking applications to hold meetings but some of the police officers seem not to understand letters that would have been written by their colleagues,” said Magwizi.
Magwizi said that implementation of reforms relating to the country’s security sector would have gone a long way in guarding against political violence in the next elections.
Zanu (PF) is on record saying the security sector is an untouchable area. He implored members of the security sector to be impartial in their discharge of duty while reprimanding fellow war veterans who of late have been “pushing the agendas of certain political parties”.
In May, Magwizi blasted the
Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, Jabulani Sibanda, for being a “terrorist” to the people.
Sibanda has reportedly been embarking on tours of various provinces in the country where he is allegedly threatening people against voting for the MDC-T in the coming elections.
Magwizi said the country’s securocrats should show respect for the constitution and desist from making reckless statements that have a potential of fuelling conflict in the country. Senior security personnel, in direct contravention of the country’s constitution, are on record vowing to resist an MDC-T rule in the country even if the party wins in an election.
Post published in: News