Police Bar Biti’s PDP Anniversary Celebrations
5 September 2016
Police in Bulawayo have barred the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its first anniversary celebrations at the White City Arena in Bulawayo on Sunday, 11 September.
Biti a founding member of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai has since forged a formidable alliance with former Vice President, Joice Mujuru and her Zimbabwe People First party.
Biti a lawyer by profession is also representing applicants in the challenge against the state’s two week ban on demonstrations. The matter which was brought before High Court Judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba this morning, was postponed to Wednesday apparently to allow the applicants and the respondents to file their heads of argument.
On the barring of Biti’s rally police are citing the unconstitutional Statutory Instrument 101A, a statute only applicable to Harare central business district.
The anniversary will be held under the theme, #TogetherAnotherZimbabweIs Possible, which Solomon Madzore, the PDP national organising secretary, said is “based on the realisation that all political parties need to form a united front to resoundingly defeat the Zanu PF regime”.
The police told the PDP Bulawayo provincial leadership that the anniversary celebrations could not take place after having previously accorded clearance for the event.
However, the PDP is working on approaching the courts to challenge the police directive.
The anniversary will be held under the theme, #TogetherAnotherZimbabweIs Possible, which Solomon Madzore, the PDP national organising secretary, said is “based on the realisation that all political parties need to form a united front to resoundingly defeat the Zanu PF regime”.
The police told the PDP Bulawayo provincial leadership that the anniversary celebrations could not take place after having previously accorded clearance for the event.
However, the PDP is working on approaching the courts to challenge the police directive.