Mlondolozi Ndlovu
The government of Zimbabwe should stop the unwarranted harassment of activists since the dire economic situation in the country deserves more protests.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare, Temba Mliswa who is the Coordinator of the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD), said the arrest of activist marked a bleak day for Zimbabwe.
“Saturday the 13 of February 2016 marked yet another bleak and desolate day for democracy in Zimbabwe. At approximately eleven hundred hours a peaceful group of Valentine’s marchers comprising youthful members of the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD), Zimbabwe Activist Alliance (ZAA), Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) and Zimbabwe Policy Dialogue Institute (ZPDI) were attacked by police” said the outspoken legislator.
The former Hurungwe West legislature noted that the acts by the police were barbaric.
“YARD deplores this barbaric act committed against innocent Zimbabweans who were engaged in a legitimate and peaceful march to express their love for their country, Zimbabwe, during this weekend that symbolized the displays of affection being Valentine’s weekend” he said.
The March was dubbed ‘ Valentines’s March:: I love Zimbabwe’ which commenced at Town House was to see marchers walk through to Parliament culminated in the arrest of YARD members.
“In our case as YARD, a YARDer, Lennon Manyengavana who is the National Committee Member for Recruitment and Mobilisation for YARD was helplessly surrounded, brought to the ground and brutally attacked by a group of town members of the ZRP” he said.
Mliswa demanding the end of these acts saying the rights of individuals must be respected.
“These cruel and repressive acts of police aggression should not and cannot be allowed to continue with impunity and we hereby call upon Commissioner- General Augustine Chihuri in his capacity as the Chief of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to observe the rights of Zimbabweans as espoused in the constitution of the country and immediately conduct a probe into Saturday’s diabolic incident and bring the perpetrators to book” read the statement.
He demanded the end to this brutality.
“ We therefore condemn police brutality, advocate for people’s rights to be observed and demand a probe to conducted against perpetrators” she said.
