Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has filed an urgent court application challenging police ban to a prayer rally against human rights violation and the disregard of the Constitution by the State that was scheduled for today.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on Wednesday blocked a prayer rally by CiZC despite the latter notifying the police as required by law.
In an application in which ZRP officer commanding Harare central district Chief Superintendent G Moyo is respondent CiZC is seeking interdict and ancillary relief.
“The application is made on the following grounds: Applicant gave notification to hold o public meeting to the respondent. Respondent asked for the applicant to attend a meeting with the respondent in terms of S8 of the maintenance of Peace and Order and there were discussions and negotiations on how the meeting could be held.
“It was agreed in the meeting that the venue of the gathering be changed from the one indicated in the notification letter. It was also agreed that instead of a public procession the public meeting be held at Africa Unity Square and the representatives of the applicant be allowed to address the gathering after which a few representatives would then go and hand in the petition to Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
“Applicant was asked to go and do another letter of notification as an addendum to the one sent earlier which would capture the agreed position. Applicant did an addendum as discussed. But in spite of the changes that were agreed, respondent wrote a letter to the applicant on 10 August 2022 advising that the meeting could not go ahead because the meeting would contravene S10(11(0) or the Maintenance of Peace and Oder Act,” read the application
CiZC added “This refusal for the applicant to hold the meeting is a second one otter the first notification was said by the respondent not to have compelled with the law. It looks like the respondent will never allow the applicant to hold public meeting and to exercise its rights. There is no other remedy other that the relief being sought as of the requisites of the relief sought have been met.”
In a letter dated august 10, Chief Superintendent G Moyo said the demonstration could not be sanctioned as it violates the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
“This office acknowledges receipt of your notification letter dated 3 August 2022which was received on the 5th of August 2022 in which you intend to hold a demonstration on the 12th of August 2022 from 0900 hours to 1300 hours. This office brings to your attention that your intended demonstration violates section 10 (1) (a) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act chapter 11:23 therefore the demonstration is not sanctioned,” Moyo wrote
