Police on high alert for illegal protests
POLICE are on high alert to thwart any illegal demonstration and will arrest any suspect involved in inciting the public to engage in unsanctioned protests bent on disrupting smooth business operations.
This comes after opposition elements linked to the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) have created a flier indicating that there will be public protests starting today, demanding for fresh polls.
According to the flier, the protests will be held countrywide.
The CCC is rejecting the results of the Presidential elections where its leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, lost with 44 percent of the total vote, while President Mnangagwa has been declared winner after getting 52,6 percent of the votes.
Despite the country’s laws enabling political parties aggrieved with electoral outcomes to approach the courts for legal recourse, the opposition has vowed not to take the legal route.
It has, however, threatened to embark on nationwide protests to force Government to conduct fresh elections, a demand that authorities have said they will not give in to. Already, the Government has enacted Statutory Instrument 1380A of 2023 confirming winners of the 2023 harmonised elections in line with the Electoral Act, paving way for inauguration of the President and swearing in of parliamentarians and councillors.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said law enforcement agents have not sanctioned any protests and those found violating the law will be arrested.
He, however, urged members of the public to go about their business as adequate deployments have been made to guarantee their safety.
-Chronicle
