- State alleges MDC plotting January 14 protests commemoration
- Demonstrations meant to coincide with EU sanctions review
- MDC denies involvement
- MDC says currently pushing for compensation for people who ‘were killed, maimed or lost property through actions of State’
- Gvt says some NGOs will mobilise protests to justify funding from the West
ZIMBABWE is set to enter a season of acute protests organised by civil society and opposition parties ahead of European Union sanctions review in February, Zim Morning Post has learnt.
In an interview with Zim Morning Post presidential spokesperson George Charamba said government was aware that some political parties and civil society groups were planning to commemorate the January 14 protests by holding unsanctioned demonstrations.
“We know there are some demonstrations being planned around the country as we approch January 14, but we are ready to preserve the peace and security of the country and won’t tolerate anything of that sought,” Charamba said.
He also said the planned demonstrations were meant to target the impending review of sanctions by the European Union.
“The opposition is planning something they know is illegal, with the intention of causing chaos while aware that government has mechanisms to prevent chaos and will respond to such action,” Charamba warned.
Charamba also said government is aware that some NGOs will be actively involved in mobilising for a season of protests so that the get funds from the Western donors.
Last year, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders and some pro-democracy activists called for what they called ‘shutdown’ protests which turned violent and disruptive, with 12 people reportedly killed.
Alleged key proponents of January 14 protest codenamed “total shutdown” are Japhet Moyo and Peter Mutasa of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions as well as Evan Mawarire of the #ThisFlag movement who are currently facing charges of subversion in the courts.
Some of the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC party leaders, among them secretary-general Charlton Hwende and MP Joana Mamombe, are facing charges of inciting violence through social media platforms.
According to the State, the January 14 protesters overpowered police officers who were deployed to maintain order, leading to intervention by the military in order to restore sanity in troubled spots across the country.
The internet was also temporarily shut down by government in order to deny communication platforms to organisers of the “total shutdown.”
Sources within the security sector claim that the planned demos are meant to tarnish the image of the Government of Zimbabwe ahead of the dates to review the sanctions imposed by the EU and the US and due between February and March this year.
Speaking to Zim Morning Post, MDC secretary general Charlton Hwende, however, dismissed claims of impending protests, saying his party had no plans to stage demonstrations as yet.
He said his MDC party were adherents to constitutionalism, and would accordingly be guided by that principle whenever a decision to rollout demonstrations is made.
“When we demonstrate, we notify the police as per the laws of the country. That notice, to the best of my knowledge, has not been issued,” Hwende said.
He further said his party had no intention to commemorate the “shutdown protests” since the MDC had not been a part of them.
Hwende, however, said the MDC would ensure that innocent victims of the “shutdown protests” were compensated by State.
During the protests, some businesses and ordinary citizens lost property and goods worth several millions of dollars.
“In any case, the MDC cannot commemorate January 14 because they did not organise those protests. The protests were organized by the citizens themselves. As the MDC, we are busy pushing for the compensation of those people who were killed, maimed or lost property through the actions of the military and State,” Hwende added.