Do Mugabe's Powers Include Unilateral Ban On Political Rallies?

Yesterday, I wrote on my main page of an unofficial 'State of Emergency', and now we also discover that there was a 'ban' on MDC rallies. Although unofficial, and, more than likely illegal, Mugabe went ahead with it anyway.

And that is not to say that MDC meetings and rallies won't be harried and resisted even though Mugabe has said they can go ahead.

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"Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai Monday said President Robert Mugabe had agreed to have a police "ban" on MDC-T rallies lifted.

Monday Tsvangirai reportedly met the 87-year-old former guerilla leader to discuss the ban on public gatherings, especially those of the MDC-T and other organisations perceived to be anti-ZANU PF.

"The Prime Minister and the President met today and agreed that all meetings should be allowed to proceed," said Luke Tamborinyoka, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson.

"The two agreed that there is no instruction to stop any meetings as insinuated by overzealous police officers who enforced a non-existent instruction to stop the people of Zimbabwe from exercising their constitutional right of assembly."

The proof of the pudding is in the eating... I do believe that the MDC meetings will be hassled by the police and the youth militia and arrests will continue.

Mugabe doesn't change his mind overnight.

"Tamborinyoka said there was a general agreement that the government was under no threat to justify prohibition of public meetings.

"Moreover, Cabinet met last week and agreed that there was no threat to the inclusive government to warrant a ban on public meetings," Tamborinyoka said.

"According to the GPA, executive authority in the country is shared between the President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet. That all of them have not sanctioned any ban on public meetings can only mean that whoever is tampering with the people’s freedom of assembly is either being deliberately mischievous or has a parallel government agenda."

Please note that whilst the 'ban' existed, ZANU PF meetings were allowed to continue with no obstacles.

"He added: "The President and the Prime Minister agreed that there is no state of emergency in the country; that the people’s rights must be respected; and that there is no instruction from anyone to stop public meetings."

George Charamba, President Mugabe’s spokesperson, yesterday said he was not yet aware of any such meeting between the President and the Prime Minister.

Observers said it was not clear whether the ban was a calculated move by the police to maintain law and order in the wake of political violence or acts by overzealous and partisan officers singing for their supper.

"I don’t have that information as yet, but when I left at around 1pm I had not heard about the meeting, I am not sure if he (the President) met the PM. Let me find out and get back to you," Charamba said."

Here's a question - is it within the President's remit to ban the meeting and rallies of a particular political party?

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man