We do not regulate rallies, the police does – ZEC
Brian Rungano Temba
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday hosted a press conference where they addressed the allegations leveled against them by opposition and their allies in the media.
Hot on the plate was the issue of Citizen’s Coalition for Change (CCC)’s police approval that to hold their rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield Harare on Sunday.
Opposition forces on social media had typed millions of characters accusing ZEC of standing by, while they got less preferential treatment from the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
In the letter of approval for their rally, CCC is expected to control the behaviour of their party members before, during and after the launch.
They are not to alter their venue and time of their launch.
Police has made it clear that they are not to intimidate passer-bys or block throughfares and roads around the venue.
The condition that raffled feathers, was that busing people from other constituencies is strictly prohibited and that toyi-toying, convoying of vehicles and disseminating hateful defaming information would result in the police dispersing the crowd.
ZEC whose duty entails preparing, conducting and supervising elections is being accused of not intervening.
However, the electoral body said rally logistics are outside their purview.
ZEC Acting CEO Jane Pamhidzirai Chigidji told the press that in the case of the conditions for Sunday’s CCC campaign launch was not the electoral body`s jurisdiction.
Again, CCC supporters and senior members have been found wanting in terms of where to direct their grievances.
Asking ZEC to better rally conditions, is tantamount to going to a pharmacy and asking for vehicle spare parts.
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