Relief over new lockdown demands

THE High Court yesterday granted an interim relief to lawyers barring the police from enforcing a litany of new demands they had imposed on the commuting public to be allowed passage at police roadblocks during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The group of lawyers under the banner of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and a citizen, who is also a lawyer, Ntonkozo Tichaona, represented by Obey Shava of Shava Law Chambers, had sued the police over the recent demands. The lawyers and Tichaona said the police had acted illegally and unconstitutionally by assuming law making powers, which does not exist in terms of any law.

Justice Edith Mushore yesterday ruled in favour of the lawyers, interdicting the police pending finalisation of the matter.

“Pending the determination of this matter, the following relief is granted: the respondents be and are hereby barred and interdicted from acting upon and giving effect to the ZRP Press statement issued on July 20, 2020,” Mushore said in her ruling.

On July 20, the police ordered that health workers should be in uniform to be able to pass through a roadblock. Those in civilian attire should have a letter from a medial superintendent stating the place and date of reporting on and off duty. Other employees were also required to have letters from their chief executive officers stating the place, days and times of reporting and indicating when they are on or off duty, among other demands. — BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA