OUTSPOKEN former Cabinet minister and Zanu PF politburo member Tshinga Dube has called for maturity ahead of this year’s polls amid police bans of opposition rallies which are often violently disrupted by ruling party activists.
Dube, a former MP for Makokoba, has described the situation in the country as abnormal, adding that there was need for change as the country has been under international scrutiny for too long.
“We need to change, we have been in the eyes of the world for too long, we must show the world that we are now mature,’’ Dube said.
Police are reportedly using the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act to ban feedback meetings of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators.
The meetings are meant to acquaint constituents with what would have transpired in Parliament. The feedback meetings, which also inform communities of government programmes, are important for incumbent MPs who will be seeking re-election in a few months’ time.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has described the banning of his party’s rallies by the Zimbabwe Republic Police as “lawfare”.
Some of the rallies that have been banned were scheduled for Chiwanzamarara, Marondera, Chikomba in Mashonaland East, Chiendambuya in Makoni district, rural Mutare and other parts of the country.
Ibhetshu Likazulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo accused Zanu PF of being behind the bans.
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“This has always been their modus operandi since the 1980s. They have been banning their political competitors like the then opposition Zapu.
“They use this as their strategy to gain an unfair political advantage over other parties in order to cling to power. Whenever they see that Zanu PF is not popular, they touch every panic button,” he said.
