HILLARY NDUWENI
MASVINGO – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) had 28 of its applied for meetings unapproved in Masvingo Province by Police, Simon Ziki provincial chair has said.
Ziki told The Midweek Watch that recently they wanted to hold a youth meeting at Chikuku Business Center in Bikita, but Police refused to clear it.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Kudakwashe Dhewa referred questions to National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who said wanted more time to get all the fact about the issue.
In January former ZANU PF national political commissar Engelbert Rugeje held three gatherings in Bikita’s three constituencies dubbed new year celebration rallies while many meetings were held for various affiliates for ED including two held in Masvingo at the Charles Austin Theatre recently including PWD4ED.
Governance and public management scholar and Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) director Professor Eldred Masunungure however said the actions show that Zanu PF will not allow a free, fair and credible election and it is trying every trick in the book to block fair competition from the opposition particularly CCC.
He added that the ruling party incrementally began to shut space for the opposition soon after the 2018 elections and it is escalating as elections are now due mid-year hence claims to have already won the election.
He added that the it is not only in Masvingo where opposition gatherings are not being cleared by Police, but it is how Zanu PF is operating countrywide.
“The playing ground is not fair and Zanu PF is cruising to victory through foul play. The party started to shut democratic space soon after the 2018 elections and foul play is inherent in it,” said Prof Masunungure.
