Maravi

Zimbabwe police charge Tsvangirai

Zimbabwe police charge Tsvangirai
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Saturday September 08, 2007 [04:00]

ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) on Thursday charged opposition MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai with alleged disorderly conduct following his tour last month of supermarkets to assess the impact of price cuts. But MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the charge was ridiculous and an infringement of Tsvangirai’s right to shop. In an interview yesterday, police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka confirmed that the police summoned the MDC leader on Thursday.

“Yes, I can confirm that he was summoned to our law and order section at Harare Central Police on Thursday. And he appeared in the company of his lawyer (Alec Muchadehama),” Chief Superintendent Mandipaka said.
“And police are preferring a charge under the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9.23. For what we suspect could have been disorderly conduct. The allegation arose as a result of a complaint that was received by police in relation to the conduct which he is now being charged.”

Chief Superintendent Mandipaka further said Tsvangirai was later released.
“He was released, he is not in police custody,” he said.

And Chamisa described the charge as ridiculous and an infringement of Tsvangirai’s right to shop.
“It is quite laughable... it is ridiculous. Are they trying to send a message that a legitimate leader of the opposition in this country has no right to shop?” Chamisa asked.

“This is purely an infringement on president Tsvangirai’s right to shop. It’s a normal thing for an opposition leader to have first-hand information about the situation on the ground.”

He said MDC was not taking the charge lightly because it was an attempt by the government to abuse the police.
“This is a gesture of harassment and intimidation during the run-up to the elections next year. We question ZANU-PF’s commitment to holding free and fair elections next year because already they are intimidating political opponents,” Chamisa said.

“This kind of behaviour shows that ZANU-PF does not understand democracy, they don’t understand that politics is about competition of ideas.”

Last month, the Zimbabwean opposition leader toured shops and supermarkets in Harare’s central business district and high-density suburbs to assess a government directive issued to business leaders last June to slash prices by 50 per cent.
Tsvangirai was in the company of MDC officials and journalists as he went round the shops and supermarkets.
Meanwhile, ZRP commissioner Augustine Chihuri on Thursday said the ZRP was committed to economic revival as espoused in the strategic plan vision 2008.

“In recent months, business in collusion with hostile forces created artificial shortages of basic commodities in the country resulting in runaway inflation where prices were increasing almost hourly,” Chihuri said.
“In response, government put in place the National Incomes and Pricing Commission whose recommendations gave birth to the on-going operation

Reduce Prices. The ZRP is fully participating in the operation which is geared to bring economic normalcy in the country.”
He also urged the police officers to acquaint themselves with the relevant electoral legislation and SADC guidelines in order to be able to provide adequate police services and a conducive atmosphere for the conducting of democratic elections.
“The willing political forces of regression continue to receive sponsorship to sabotage the economy through deliberate acts of misinformation and terror campaigns to create a state of anarchy and lawlessness,” Chihuri said in his address to the officers at police headquarters.

“I urge you all to be vigilant and to remain steadfast, diligent and unquestionably loyal as you serve your country.”

Labels: MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:46 AM