MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs Minister Abednico Ncube has threatened that government will release a heavy police force into the province ahead of opposition MDC demonstrations at the end of the week.

In a Press conference on Monday, Ncube said it had come to his attention that the MDC had planned to lead demonstrations on Friday in Gwanda, Plumtree and Beitbridge.

“I would like to call upon all the people of Matabeleland South Province in particular those in Beitbridge, Plumtree and Gwanda to ignore the calls to stage demonstrations this week being made by the MDC Alliance and its partners.

“We are a rainbow province known for love, peace, unity and development. Demonstrations will not bring food to our tables but destroy life and property. Zimbabwe has a democratic Government which was elected in July 2018 and can’t be removed by demonstrations. Economic challenges are solved by hard work and not by demonstrating,’’ he said.

He said that the police will be out in full force on the day.

Ncube described the demonstrations against the deteriorating economic environment in the country as a plot by the MDC to disturb peace in the province and hinder development.

“It’s the duty of the police to maintain law and order and police will be on the look out. The police will not hesitate to enforce the law on anyone that will break the law or cause disturbances. People are assured that the police will protect them and they should go about their business as usual and report for work,’’ he said.