Police Block CCC Rally In Gutu Central

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has blocked CCC from holding a meeting at Dewure Business Centre, Ward 35 of Gutu Central Constituency that was scheduled for this Sunday.

In a letter dated 10 February 2023 addressed to CCC’s Lloyd Mupfudze, Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure of Masvingo East Police District said the meeting cannot be held because “the venue is still volatile to violence”. Reads the prohibition notice:

SUBJECT: PROHIBITION NOTICE IN TERMS OF SECTION 8(a) of MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND ORDER ACT CHAPTER 11:23]

I Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. being the regulating authority for Masvingo East Police District covering an area of jurisdiction extending from Shashe River to the North West.

Denhere Communal lands to the North, Dewure River to the East and Manjirenji Dam to the South.

ACKNOWLEDGE receipt of your notification to hold a public meeting dated 05/02/23 to be held at Dewure Business Centre, Ward 35 Gutu Central Constituency on 12/02/2023 from 1000 hours to 1600 hours which you submitted in terms of section 7 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11.23.

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The application could not be approved since the venue is still volatile to violence as per our assessment (Stakeholders’ Engagement] on 29/03/22 in which you also took part.

Reference is also made to all political parties’ meeting held on 23/11/22 after a sharp increase of politically motivated cases in Gutu Central Constituency in which you were also a participant in the meeting. We are still receiving some reports of the same nature although in a decline.

Also, be advised that another political party had made a notification to hold a political activity at the same venue (Dewure Business Centre).

It is prudent that political activities be prohibited at that venue until sanity prevails. Hence all notifications pertaining to that venue are prohibited.

NOW, THEREFORE, I as the Regulating Officer do hereby issue this prohibition notice in terms of section 819) of Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11.23], prohibiting the holding of a public meeting scheduled for 12/02/2023 at Dewure Business Centre, ward 35 Gutu Central Constituency from 1000 hours to 1600 hours.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared in terms of section 8 (11) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11: 23] that any person who knowingly opposes or fails to comply with this prohibition notice shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

The Officer-in-Charge ZRP Gutu is accordingly advised for the necessary monitoring.