Opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has castigated authorities for granting the ruling ZANU PF party the nod to convene an anti-sanctions march slated for Harare this Thursday, barely a fortnight after it saw its string of countrywide demonstrations prohibited.
ZANU PF will take to the streets of Harare this week in solidarity with SADC member states in calling for the removal of economic sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the United States.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to address the demonstrators.
In an interview with 263Chat, MDC Secretary General, Charlton Hwende described the development as clear evidence of government selective application of the law.
“That is what we have been saying all along as a party, that the biggest problem that we have is the absence of the rule of law and selective application of the law. We would want a situation were by all Zimbabweans enjoy their democratic rights. The same rights that are now being extended to members of ZANU PF should also be extended to ordinary Zimbabweans who want to exercise their rights in terms of Section 59,” said Hwende.
Last month MDC planned a round of demonstrations in all major cities over the flagging economic situation prevailing in the country but the demonstrations were thwarted by prohibitive orders from the police on the eleventh hour.
In the case of Harare, scores of demonstrators were subsequently beaten up and arrested by the marauding police after the High Court dismissed MDC’s urgent chamber application to overturn the prohibition order.
The MDC stalwart however said the party is planning more demonstrations going forward.
“Definitely, the right to protest against government policies, the right is enshrined in the Constitution. The MDC will definitely be pursuing that avenue among other avenues that they are going to use to ensure that our goals are achieved and we address the illegitimacy of this government, so all options are open we are going to pursue our right to protest,” added Hwende.
Meanwhile ZANU PF has also extended invitation to all citizens regardless of political affiliation to take part in the march, describing it as a national event.
“We want to make it a national event. The solidarity march will include the government, civil society, students, the business community (and) all political parties, among others. The event is open to everyone,” ZANU PF Secretary of Administration, Obert Mpofu said early this week.
The ruling party believes the Western imposed sanctions form the backbone of the country’s plethora of challenges and President Mnangagwa has managed to convince SADC member states of this, prompting the bloc to join in the chorus against sanctions on Zimbabwe.
On the other hand, the MDC party identifies corruption, nepotism, weak economic policies, disregard of human rights and stolen elections in the hands of ZANU PF-led government as the fulcrum to economic decay over the last two decades.
The West has however previously called for political reforms and respect of human rights as sacrosanct to removal of sanctions.
