Demos inimical to economic growth

John Mukumbo Correspondent
The new Constitution of Zimbabwe, Chapter 4, Section 58 article (1) reads, “Every person has the right to freedom of assembly and association, and the right not to assemble or associate with others. Section 59 of the same Chapter says “Every person has the right to demonstrate and present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully.” So the new Constitution is very clear on those people who might feel that they have anything against their superiors to either demonstrate or present petitions to them peacefully.

With the Constitution clearly outlining what is supposed to be done by anyone thinking of holding a demonstration or presenting a petition of any sort to the authorities, it defies logic to hear that some individuals could turn themselves into thugs. It is naïve to indulge into violent activities when people would be demonstrating because violence destroys infrastructure which the Government has taken years to build.

It is a fact that the Constitution makes it possible for every person to exercise his/her right to assemble or not to assemble and for that reason there is no need to disregard what the Constitution stands for. In addition, the same Constitution gives an individual the right to demonstrate peacefully without violence.

Such demonstrations which individuals are allowed to carry out have been clearly outlined by the Constitution and they need to be carried out peacefully without coercing those against it to join the instigators of some demonstrations. Furthermore the constitution says that every person has a right to assemble and not to assemble

It is clear from the Constitution that those who feel that they want to assemble should not force others to do the same. Those who feel that they want to demonstrate against either Government or their employers should not do it violently.

The recent demonstrations by the alleged cross-border traders that followed the introduction by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Statutory Instrument No, 64 of 2016 which calls for regulation in the importation of basic commodities and building materials was not supposed to have gone like that. This is because there was some misunderstanding on its meaning. Some people who have been surviving by importing basic commodities for resale in the country thought that the Government has descended heavily on them as their perceived line of survival has been interrupted. They also thought that the Government was not sincere by coming up with that SI at the time when the economy was not performing to expectations.

So the recent burning in Beitbridge of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) warehouse by the demonstrators should be condemned by all peace-loving Zimbabweans. It was very unfortunate for the demonstrators to vent their anger on a building which also housed their impounded goods. Those who burned that warehouse could have known that through negotiations, the Zimra officials could have released their goods after payment of duty.

As if the Beitbridge burning of the Zimra warehouse by the demonstrators was not enough in Harare it was reported on Monday July 4 that some kombi drivers decided to pull off their vehicles in opposition to the alleged many roadblocks mounted by police during peak hours.Demonstrations of such nature were reported mostly in the eastern suburbs of Harare, such as Mabvuku, Tafara, Ruwa and Epworth.

While it is a right for some individuals to demonstrate as a way of showing their displeasure over anything they perceive to be against them but using violence during demonstrations is against the Constitution. Every citizen should observe the rule of law and Zimbabwe cannot be a good country if its citizens go against the Constitution. Actually observing and respecting what the Constitution stands for is what makes a country look good and respectable by the international community.

Zimbabwe is known for being peaceful in the whole SADC region and even on the African continent so such stability needs to be maintained. For that reason, Zimbabweans should desist from using violence whenever they are carrying out demonstrations so that the country remains peaceful.