By Own Correspondent| Protestors for the MDC Alliance peaceful march will assemble at Africa Unity Square and march to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) offices before proceeding to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s offices at Munhumutapa Building in Harare to deliver their petition on electoral reforms, Amos Chibaya, one of the organisers of the protest has confirmed.
Addressing a press conference at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare today, Chibaya, who is MDC T National Organising Secretary dispelled speculation that the electoral reforms protestors would not present their petition to the President adding that the protest had been approved.
“The onus is now on citizens to make their voices heard by coming in their large numbers. The Constitution protects those who engage in peaceful protests and tomorrow’s event is one such.
We are saying the police has been notified according to the dictates of the law hence we are going to present our petition to President Mnangagwa,” said Chibaya.
Below is the full text of the press statement.
Free and fair election peace march on tomorrow
Tomorrow, we are holding a Free and Fair election peace march in Harare . We are meeting at Africa Unity Square at 9am, and we march together to the ZEC offices and present our fully comprehensive petition that speak to the fundamental reforms that need to be implemented before we can hold a free, fair and credible election.
From there, we, proceed to Munhumutapa building to present the same petition to the Mnangagwa administration. We will use Samora Machel Avenue.
We then march taking Second Street (Sam Mujoma) to Africa Unity Square where the people will be addressed by the people’s president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
This is a crucial time. We must be vigilant as we demand an Environment for credible elections in Zimbabwe.
The ballot paper remains a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s democracy. As long as the paper has not been scrutinized, and the printing of the ballot paper remains shrouded in secrecy, then there cannot be an election.
As long as the voters’ roll has not been audited by credible and an independent external auditor, there cannot be an election.
As long as the securocrats remain entrenched in the ZEC systems and interfere with our democratic right to choose a leader we want, and transfer power to the winning candidate then Zimbabwe cannot have elections.
As major stakeholders in the political affairs of Zimbabwe, we want to participate in the National Logistics Committee so that we run this election in a manner that will produce an uncontested outcome.
We are aware that Zanu has organized it’s overzealous supporters to infiltrate and cause havoc and paint us in the bad picture. We will not have that. We encourage the people of Zimbabwe to exercise restraint in the face of provocation. We encourage the participants not to participate in any act of violence, looting or damage.
As we have said, this is a Free and Fair Election Peace March.
Hon Amos Chibaya
National Organizing Secretary