BINDURA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) – In a blow to the main opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), a Zimbabwean court upheld a ban on their planned campaign launch, making it the third rally to be banned. Nelson Chamisa, the leader of CCC, continues to face hurdles on his campaign trail.
CCC had scheduled its campaign launch in Bindura, located about 100 km (62 miles) north of the capital Harare. However, the police cited problems with the venue and banned the gathering. CCC’s lawyers quickly filed an urgent application challenging the police’s decision at the High Court, but the judge referred the matter back to the lower court on Sunday. Subsequently, Bindura Magistrate Mary Musika upheld the ban, ruling that CCC had failed to notify the police on time.
Responding to the ruling, CCC lawyer Agency Gumbo expressed concern over the uneven playing field in this election. Gumbo stated, “The ruling showed there is an uneven playing ground in this election. It shows that the democratic space has been eroded. We are getting into a match with both legs tied so you cannot score.”
The ruling ZANU-PF party, however, could not be reached for comment at the time.
As the court proceedings took place, a small group of opposition supporters gathered outside, chanting party slogans to protest the ban. They expressed frustration over the lack of freedom to support their party and highlighted the difficulties they faced in attending the rally due to its overnight location. Reuters interviewed Patience Chigwande, a 36-year-old who commented, “It is disheartening because ZANU PF is allowed to campaign freely but they are using the law to block our rallies. People now fear for their lives and this will impact our vote.”
Political analysts are concerned that the ongoing clampdown on the opposition could undermine the credibility of the upcoming elections. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seeking a second term, may face challenges in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and David Holmes
Credit: The Star : News Feed
