By Tatenda Dewa
Zanu PF has forced the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) to reschedule its demonstration in Manicaland to an earlier date, claiming that it already had been given approval to hold a meeting at the same venue, Meikles Park.
The MDC-T rally will now take place on Thursday, 23 June, instead of the 25th.
The main opposition has set down a number of protests countrywide to voice concern at the worsening economy and resurgence of politically motivated persecutions of President Robert Mugabe’s critics.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, blamed the police for keeping making excuses against their planned demonstration in Mutare, the Manicaland capital.
“The police were giving us all sorts of excuses about June 25. They advised us that Zanu PF had lodged an earlier application to hold their meeting in Mutare on June 25 and so there would be a clash with our demo scheduled to take place on the same day,” said Gutu.
Following the frustrations, Gutu added, the Manicaland executive held a meeting and agreed to bring the demonstration backward to Thursday.
MDC-T reportedly sought police clearance for their demonstration on 8 June, but Zanu PF insists it applied for a meeting in May.
The ruling party denied frustrating MDC-T, saying its meeting was meant to launch a policy to empower youths with housing stands.
The Morgan Tsvangirai party held its first protest against high unemployment and the economic crisis in Harare recently, attracting tens of thousands of supporters who converged in Harare’s Africa Unity Square.
Gutu said they were expecting not less than 10,000 people at the Mutare demonstration.
All the major political parties have of late taken to the streets to either show their strength or protest against Mugabe’s rule.
Following the MDC-T rally in Harare, Zanu PF mobilised scores of thousands of party supporters for a rally dubbed the “Million Men March” meant to show support for Mugabe.
Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) led by Joice Mujuru, Mugabe’s former deputy, at the weekend held a rally in Bulawayo that also attracted thousands of people. Nehanda Radio
