Harare: Zimbabwe’s High Court has dismissed an urgent chamber application by the MDC Alliance seeking a ruling overturning a police ban of their demonstration against poor governance.
Police on Thursday night had issued a prohibition order nullifying the party’s intended demonstration after accusing the latter of plotting violence.
The MDC has however charged it will go ahead with the protests, beginning in the capital Harare before spreading to other cities.
There is a heavy police presence in the country’s cities, with army trucks also having been spotted.
MDC response to Protest Ban:
16 August 2019
Harare Now on Forced Stayaway Ordered by Junta
The High Court has referred the people’s lawyers application against the police prohibition order back to the Magistrates courts.
The people’s lawyers have decided not to go to the Magistrates Courts.
The people’s lawyers have expressed total shock and respectfully think the judgment was riddled with political interference by the junta.
ln the meantime, heavily armed police have cordoned off all the major roads leading into the city centre
The junta has also deployed a huge police contigent at both the Africa Unity Square and the MDC headquarters.
This effectively means that the junta has now forcibly declared a total shutdown of Harare today
So for now the people must remain calm, avoid any form of violence and stay safely at home
ln the meantime, the preparations will continue for the other already planned people’s marches to be held at Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.
The time has come for the people of Zimbabwe to take charge of their future and democratic destiny
Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson
