Court upholds police ban on MDC demo

THE MDC-Alliance’s bid to repeal a police order prohibiting their planned demonstrations in Bulawayo yesterday suffered a major setback after a magistrate threw out the opposition party’s urgent chamber application challenging the ban.

The ruling by Mr Tinashe Tashaya follows a notice of appeal filed on an urgent basis by the MDC Alliance at the Bulawayo magistrate’s court challenging a prohibition order by the police.

In papers before the court, the officer commanding police in Bulawayo Central District, Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Phiri and her boss Commissioner-General Godwin

Earlier in the day the police had posted on micro blogging site, Twitter, urging transport operators and the business community to continue offering their services as their security was guaranteed.

“The ZRP wishes to advise members of the public that the security situation in Bulawayo is calm. We urge the public to co-operate with the police as they perform their duties to ensure law and order is maintained.

“Business and transport operators are encouraged to allow the public to access their services. Any acts of lawlessness should be reported to the police for swift action to be taken on 09885479 or 0242748836,” ZRP tweeted.

The peace and calm in Bulawayo is a massive Matanga were cited as respondents.

In dismissing the appeal, Mr Tashaya ruled that there was a likelihood of violence and destruction of property similar to the January protests if the MDC-Alliance was allowed to proceed with the demonstration.

He also noted that although citizens have a constitutional right to stage demonstrations, the same rights had limitations in the interest of public safety, defence, public morality and health.

“There is no guarantee that the January incident may not be repeated if the appellant (MDC Alliance) is allowed to go ahead with the demonstration. Accordingly, the prohibition order is confirmed and the appeal is hereby dismissed,” ruled the magistrate. blow to plans by the MDC-A to engineer an uprising in the country and topple the legitimately elected Government of Zimbabwe.

The High Court on Sunday blocked the planned demonstrations by the MDC-Alliance following an urgent chamber application by residents, the business community and churches. Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Mabhikwa, ruled that MDC-Alliance could not go ahead with the demonstrations after the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers’ Association, the Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (Bura), the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) and city businessman Mr Davies Muhambi approached the High Court on an urgent basis