HARARE – A showdown is looming between the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) after the youth wing of the country’s biggest opposition political party resolved to conduct massive protests against government without first notifying the police.

The notorious Public Order and Security Act (Posa) makes it a requirement for the ZRP to be notified by parties that wish to stage protests or public gatherings.

It also gives police unfettered powers to suspend public gatherings.But in a landmark ruling in October last year, the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) ruled in October
last year that the provision empowering the local police to indefinitely ban public demonstrations in their jurisdictions was unconstitutional.

As a result, the MDC is planning to embark on demonstrations to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to deal with the bad
economic situation, which is threatening to grind the country to a halt, while bypassing the police.

Secretary-general of the MDC Youth Assembly Lovemore Chinoputsa told the Daily News yesterday that they will start rolling out the demonstrations next week.Daily News