The police deprive MDC of their campaigning right

Police in Bulawayo have blocked the Welshman Ncube-led MDC campaign rally claiming they did not have enough police officers to cover the event.

The rally was scheduled for March 12 at Stanley Square in the city.

MDC Bulawayo spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu told NewsDay the party had resolved to defy the police order and proceed with the planned rally with or without police clearance.

“As a political party we are dismayed by the actions of the police to block our rally set for the 12th of March. Police must know that under the Public Order Security Act, we are required to inform them and not seek permission from them. We are a law-abiding political party that has never indulged in any political violence. We will continue with our rally with or without any clearance from the police,” he said.

“We know that this is a move to block our president from meeting the people of Bulawayo after successful meetings in Lupane, Gwanda and Matobo. This is a continuation of the abuse of our leader by Zanu PF and (Arthur) Mutambara.

“We want to warn anyone who tries to stop our rally that we will go ahead peacefully and while we are a law-abiding party, we are not a group of holy messengers or pastors. We are a political party which wants power through free and fair elections.”

Ndlovu accused the police of partisanship, and the party strongly believed the police actions showed some people were afraid of the electorate they purported to represent.

However, acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Precious Simango could not comment, indicating she was yet to get details on the matter.