The move by the police to ban opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party’s official election campaign launch on flimsy grounds is a major threat to the credibility of the harmonised polls slated for August 23.
Police in Bindura said CCC could not conduct the rally in the Mashonaland Central capital that was meant to be held today because the venue was not suited for a gathering.
They cited lack of accessibility to water and sewer facilities as well as an access road.
CCC attempts to challenge the ban was thwarted by the magistrates court, which strangely scheduled the hearing for July 11, days after the planned date for the rally.
The latest clampdown happened a few days after the police prevented CCC leader Nelson Chamisa from addressing his party’s supporters in Chiredzi after claiming that the event coincided with a state function in the town.
It has become a pattern for police to go out of their way to disrupt CCC election campaigns in what is seen as an attempt to aid the ruling Zanu PF’s efforts to retain power at all costs.
In the run-up to last year’s by-elections, police banned tens of CCC rallies across the country using the draconian Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa).
Mopa mirrors the Law and Order Maintaince Act, which was the colonial regime of Ian Smith’s favourite tool to suppress political activities by indigenous people.
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It is a travesty that a government led by a party that prides itself for being at the forefront of the liberation struggle resorts to capturing institutions such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to stifle democracy.
For the country to deliver a credible election on August 23, institutions such as the ZRP, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the courts must be allowed to act independently and be free from bias.
Candidates must be allowed to campaign freely and the rules must be applied without fear or favour.
Besides the ban on rallies, police seem to have come up with rules that apply to CCC only such as non-bussing of supporters to rallies.
On the other hand, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu PF is not bound by the same rules as it has been bussing supporters from one corner of the country to the other for its rallies.
Zanu PF is not being denied opportunities to hold its rallies.
ZRP will have to return to professionalism to give Zimbabwe a chance to hold credible elections.
