OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will Tuesday present his rescheduled “alternative State of the Nation Address” after police cleared the event, MDC Harare Provincial Chair Wellington Chikombo said.
“I’m happy to inform you that police has cleared our Presidential SONA to be addressed by non other than the People’s President (N Chamisa) on Tuesday in Mbare at Stodart,” Chikomba said.
Law enforcement agents had banned the event which had been scheduled for Wednesday last week in Mbare before Chamisa vowed to go ahead with or without a police clearance.
The MDC said police informed the party that the January 15 event could not proceed.
“The police cited flimsy excuses that the event cannot proceed because they are busy with the schools that are opening this week, as if the police have anything to do with opening of schools,” deputy party spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said then.
He added that the party had noted a disturbing trend where the police are routinely proscribing MDC events and treating the party as a banned organisation.
“The police have periodically abused our compliance with the law and as a party, we are reviewing whether under the current circumstances, we should continue to co-operate with unjust laws and unjust requirements,” he said.
Chamisa then vowed to go ahead with his planned address on January 21 effectively pushing authorities with the option of a bruising confrontation in Mbare.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We’ve exhausted all channels. We can’t continue to be victims of the unjust application of the law. Rights are for all. On Tuesday 21st Jan we will deliver the people’s Agenda 2020 to the nation come what may.#peoplesgovernment,” he tweeted.