HARARE – Masvingo police have issued a prohibition order banning Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa from leading a “tree planting day” in Gutu North constituency on Thursday.
In response to a notification about the event, police told the CCC’s local organiser Champion Lloyd Mupfudze that an unnamed political party had given prior notice to hold a meeting in the same Ward 4.
Chief Superintendent Taurai Joackim Mambure of Masvingo East police district added: “Now, therefore, I as the regulating officer do hereby issue this prohibition notice in terms of section 8(9) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act prohibiting the holding of the tree planting day scheduled for 15/12/22…
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared… that any persons who knowingly oppose or fails to comply with this prohibition noticed shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
CCC deputy spokesman Gift Ostallos Siziba said they would go ahead with their programme.
“We intend to travel to Gutu tomorrow (Thursday) where president Chamisa will launch our national tree planting programme under our ‘Green Zimbabwe’ agenda. Police have banned the event and we are seeking redress. We have an obligation to make our country better and green,” Siziba said.
Rights lawyer Obey Shava, who has represented the party in the past, said: “CCC is as good as a banned political party in Zimbabwe. It can’t hold rallies and it’s not even be allowed to plant trees. It goes without mentioning that all this is unconstitutional.”
