ZVISHAVANE turned into a war zone yesterday after police engaged in running battles with MDC-T supporters for disrupting a court-sanctioned rally that was expected to be addressed by party vice-president Nelson Chamisa.
BY Everson Mushava
The rally was later abandoned after police indiscriminately fired teargas to disperse MDC-T supporters who continued to put pressure to gain access at Maglas Stadium for the rally despite a heavy police presence.
The number of people who were injured in the melee could not be established by late yesterday. Chamisa said he was still waiting for reports from party supporters after they were scattered by the police.
Chamisa said he was shocked by the conduct of the police because the rally was sanctioned by the court.
“We made an application to have the rally in the stadium mid last month. The police rejected and we were forced to reschedule the rally to today (yesterday),” he said.
“We made another application, and the police did not respond in time, only to give us a response three days ago saying they did not have enough manpower to protect a high profile figure, referring to me.
“We rushed to the Bulawayo High Court and we were directed to the Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court which cleared the rally. But, today (yesterday), a horde of police officers went to the venue very early in the morning and started turning our supporters back saying there was no rally.”
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Chamisa said that was when the MDC-T supporters grouped outside the stadium and blocked roads, burning tyres in protest against the police action. Police responded by indiscriminately firing teargas.
“They fired teargas everywhere, even in hospitals. Even travellers were not spared. What the police did was clear provocation. People had turned up in their numbers because we are the alternative government and they wanted to hear what we are promising them.
“The actions by the police cannot be tolerated. They did the same when I went to Norton to support independent candidate Temba Mliswa. These tactics threaten the credibility of the forthcoming elections. We have continued to witness the breakdown of rule of law in Zimbabwe.”
Chamisa and his co-vice-president Elias Mudzuri were on a whirlwind tour of provinces to drum up support for Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T ahead of the forthcoming polls.
The Kuwadzana East MP accused the police of operating in a partisan manner by openly supporting Zanu PF.
Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless yesterday.
