adminSome of the party officials, who included councillors and some youths, arrived at the grounds in buses and cars singing political songs.
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was expected to attend the prayer meeting.
Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Mr Luke Tamborinyoka, said his boss wanted to be at the prayer meeting, but failed to attend because he was travelling.
“He knew about the prayer meeting and he expressed an interest to attend if he was not travelling,” he said.
“The Prime Minister would have attended and he attends any gathering that has to do with peace.”
Organisers of the meeting were told to disperse by the police around 1pm after it had become clear that the conditions were no longer conducive for a prayer meeting.
According to police, IFZ did not point out that the PM was going to address them and that it was not a ‘political meeting’ when it applied for clearance to hold the meeting.
IFZ also wanted to hold a musical concert after the meeting which was scheduled to end at 6pm, a fact they did not mention to the police.
The organisers later held some talks with the police and they were given almost an hour to wind up business.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau confirmed that some of the people arrived at the prayer meeting singing political songs.
“I am not aware that the Prime Minister was going to address the meeting, but all I can say is that we told them to finish early because of some reasons,” Insp Sabau said.
He said when the organisers applied to the police, they never said that they were going to hold a gospel musical concert after they finished their meeting.
“They were making arrangements to call musicians for a musical concert after the church service. And our other worry was that when they came, they were singing political songs, while we expected them to hold a prayer meeting,” said Insp Sabau.
Online Reporter