The Zimbabwe Republic Police has made claims that they discovered weapons of destruction allegedly acquired by the Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) ahead of the planned 16 August protests.
The weapons were found in the traditional ‘epicentres’ of violence in Harare.
In a press statement released Thursday, ZRP claimed to have discovered granite stones and catapults stashed in sacks which were allegedly delivered by two vehicles with no registration number plates.
The weapons are said to have been delivered in the epicentres of violence in the city, the places that the most violent protests have been ignited.
“It is a fact that police recovered a substantial quantity of granite stones and catapults stashed in sacks and were delivered by two vehicles which had no registration numbers at corner Nelson Mandela and Innez Terrace, Harare during the night on 13 August 2019.
The vehicles went on to drop sacks containing unknown items to some street kids at corner Robert Mugabe/ Harare Street, Copacabana commuter rank and disappeared,” read part of the statement.
In an interview with Zim Morning Post on Thursday, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the development citing that the demonstration has not been sanctioned.
ZRP also claimed that MDC is violently mobilising protesters in locations like Chitungwiza .
“In another incident over 120 MDC A activists toyi-toyed at a shopping centre in Chitungwiza during the night while chanting party slogans and mobilised residents in St Mary’s and Chigovanyika shopping centre environs to participate in demonstrations on 16 August 2019.”
“The confrontational acts by MDC coincides with the assault of innocent members of the public after an incident at St Mary’s involving one of their senior officials at the weekend,” further read the statement.
It is against this background that the MDC planned demonstration has not been sanctioned by the police.
However, analysts submitted that demos are a constitutional right and the police is simply notified intentions of such.
