Citizens denounce demos

Blessings Chidakwa

Municipal Correspondent

Citizens across the country have castigated the demonstrations slated for today, saying that the organisers are failing to respect the will of the majority of Zimbabweans that voted for President Mnangagwa and the ruling party Zanu PF.

Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association executive president McSteven Nyabvure said in as much the constitution of Zimbabwe allows citizens to demonstrate and petition Government or any institution, the same Constitution equally obligates the citizens to be peaceful.

“We also want to make it categorically clear that as citizens of this country, Zimbabwe, we participated as the electorate during the 2018 harmonised elections which ushered in President Dambudzo Mnangagwa, members of Parliament, senators and ward councillors, hence the Zanu PF led Government,” he said.

“As ZICORRA we respect the Government as the Constitutional and legitimate governing authority in Zimbabwe, which can only be removed from such authority through constitutional and peaceful means as provided for by the Constitution.

“Anything apart from that is uncalled for and cannot be supported by all reasonable citizens and stakeholders.”

Mr Nyabvure said the Constitution also obliges those planning demonstrations to observe the rights of other citizens and of the State.

“It is also important to highlight and state that the police have a duty to enforce the law and to maintain order, hence the requirement to notify the ZRP in writing of any planned public function or demonstration such that the police will be able to provide its mandatory services,” he said.

Mr Nyabvure said if the organisers are not comfortable with recommendations made they can still appeal to the same police or to the courts.

“The point here is that demonstrations or petitions must be lawfully sanctioned first before they are done and must be peaceful throughout,” he said.