OUSTED Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) had its Friday meeting in Chinhoyi banned by police, forcing the party to secure a court ruling to have the meeting proceed.
The meeting, which was set to be held at Pastoral Centre Diocese, Chinhoyi was initially allowed to proceed by police who later withdrew their decision citing manpower problems.
This prompted a High Court challenge by the party which saw Justice Happius Zhou rule in the party’s favour late Friday afternoon.
“It has been granted by Justice Happias Zhou. ZimPF has been allowed to proceed with the meeting until 8pm,” ZimPF lawyer Gift Nyandoro told RadioVOP.
“The Attorney General consented to the order. It has been granted as the final order.”
The ZimPF Mashonaland West province had called for the meeting for Friday between 0900 hours and 1700 hours.
In a letter addressed to the party’s provincial leadership earlier, police officer commanding Makonde District Chief Superintendent Ndou said the meeting could not go ahead and warned the party against breaking the law by decising to proceed.
“This office had granted you the authority to go ahead with the meeting on the said date and time but due to some security issues that have cropped up, it is unfortunate that the meeting cannot go ahead as the police have no enough manpower to provide sufficient security,” Ndou said.
“By way of this letter, I the Regulating Authority for Makonde district have retracted the previously given authority and kindly request you to defer the meeting to a later date.
“It is unfortunate that should you decide to continue it will now be an unlawful gathering.”
ZimPF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Marian Chombo accused thepolice of acting in bad faith while dealing with the fledgling party which she said incurred up to $3000 in preparing for foiled meeting.
The party comprises disgruntled former Zanu PF politicians who were dislodged for allegedly sponsoring a plot to topple President Robert Mugabe from the helm of Zanu PF.-RadioVop