Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said law enforcement agents act within the confines of the law when regulating public gatherings.
He was responding to concerns over arrests linked to meetings on Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill hearings.
Asked why police were arresting people attending such gatherings, Minister Kazembe said Zimbabwe had clear legal frameworks that governed how public meetings should be conducted.
“In Zimbabwe, we have a law, the Constitution, and MOPA (Maintenance of Peace Order Act). Some rules and regulations are expected to be followed when you want to have public gatherings,” he said.
He said organisers were required to follow laid-down procedures, including notifying authorities in advance.
“If you want a gathering without demonstrations, you give a specific time that is not an election time and a notice of seven days, which states the date, the venue, the number of people gathering and the reason for the gathering. So, you are allowed to do so if you abide by that rule,” said Minister Kazembe.
He added that police engagement with organisers was part of efforts to ensure order and safety.
“If there is any suspicion by the police that there is something that is not going well, they call the convener and they discuss with the convener and also come up with solutions. If it is done correctly, the meeting will continue. It is allowed by the Constitution,” he said.
Minister Kazembe also addressed concerns raised by legislators who claimed their requests to hold meetings had been denied, saying there are legal remedies available.
“MOPA allows an individual to appeal to a magistrate if their request has been declined. We also have an Independent Complaints Commission. If anyone realises that they are not satisfied with what the police have done, that Commission was appointed by the President. They can approach them and inform them that the issue has not been handled well by the police,” he said.
He said these mechanisms ensure accountability and provide recourse for those aggrieved by police decisions.
“So, we have two ways to deal with those who are aggrieved by the police’s decision,” he said.
