Police Throw NRZ Under The Bus Over Aborted CDF Meeting
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed as false a report claiming that police last week barred Makokoba MP, James Sithole (MDC Alliance) from holding Constituency Development Fund (CDF) consultation meetings in his constituency.
Police said the meeting was stopped by National Railways of Zimbabwe officers “as it was taking place in their area of jurisdiction.”
Sithole told an online publication that he was told that the meeting could not go ahead because he is a CCC member. Said, Sithole:
I have been denied to carry out the public consultation meeting at Westgate as scheduled despite the meeting having been cleared by the police.
I was told that the meeting cannot be held because I am a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP hence the meeting is considered political. People have been dispersed.
However, in a statement on Thursday evening, ZRP Senior Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations), Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said police were not involved in the alleged cancellation of the meeting. He said:
James Sithole (MP Makokoba)’s notification was duly sanctioned by the local regulating authority. He was allowed to hold his meeting as advised.
The meeting… was not stopped by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at all and the Member of Parliament can conclusively attest to this fact.
The meeting was stopped by National Railways of Zimbabwe officers as it was taking place in their area of jurisdiction.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police once again implores journalists to verify stories with their sources before rushing to tarnish the image of Police.
