Zimbabwean Govt warns protesters ahead of Friday march

Zimbabwe govt warns protesters
ahead of Friday march

    
Zimbabwe’s home affairs minister says the
government won’t tolerate any attempt to
undermine peace in an apparent threat against
a huge march by opposition parties on Friday.
“We will not tolerate any attempts by any group
of persons, political parties, civic organisations
or individuals whose actions will undermine the
peace and quiet that Zimbabwe enjoys today,”
Ignatius Chombo said on state ZBC TV’s main
evening news bulletin.
Harare’s High Court will hear an application on
Friday morning for the march – which is calling
for electoral reform – to be allowed to go
ahead after police said they discouraged it.
But even if the court doesn’t rule in favour of
the march, it will still go ahead, Movement for
Democratic Change Secretary General Douglas
Mwonzora said. He said up to 150 000 people
could attend.
“We are going ahead with it on the basis that it
was not expressly prohibited (by the police). It
was simply discouraged,” Mwonzora told
News24 on Thursday evening.
The march has been called for by an umbrella
group of 18 opposition parties, the National
Electoral Reform Agenda. It has the backing of
civic rights groups like ThisFlag and Tajamuka.
Tensions are running high in Harare after a
protest march by MDC youths on Wednesday
was broken up by riot police, triggering violent
protests that saw vehicles burnt and shops
looted.
On Thursday Chombo, who was flanked by
Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and State
Security Minister Kembo Mohadi, claimed the
violence was premeditated.
“Those that organised it will be made to
account,” he said. Opposition officials have
suggested the violence could have been
instigated by state agents.