More than 100 Mutasa district school heads were forced to undergo a Zanu PF training/induction program this weekend (6 to 7/11/21) at Knowstics Academy’s Knowz Wonderland Recreational Park. The program was hosted by Knowstics’ Founding Director Mrs Mukuwapasi and conducted by Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veteran Association’s Provincial Political Commissar for Manicaland, Gift Kagweda, Col Magumise and other army personnel.
Source: ZANU PF AT IT AGAIN – a leopard never changes its spots – The Zimbabwean
This is a very sad development clearly pointing to a desperate and blatant bid to rig elections through coercing civil servants in the rural areas to help them win elections.
The program was a direct violation of sections 200 and 208 of the Zimbabwe Constitution which provide as follows:
208 . Conduct of members of Civil Service
(2) No member of the Civil Service may obey an order that is manifestly illegal – in this case organising the workshop by the DSI was inexcusably illegal
(3) No member of the Civil Service may in the exercise of their functions –
(a) act in a partisan manner,
(b) further the interests of any particular party or cause – mobilising school heads to campaign for Zanu PF is asking them to break the law.
(c) prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause- opposition parties in Zimbabwe are offended n disadvantaged by this move
(d) violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person – the rights of the school heads who were commandeered to attend this illegal workshop were grossly violated. They must fully enjoy (58) freedom of assembly and association, (60) freedom of conscience, (61) freedom of expression and such other rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
208 Conduct of members of security services.
(1) Members of the security services must act in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
(2) Neither the security service nor any of their members, may in the exercise of their functions –
(a) act in a partisan manner; – chanting Zanu PF slogans
(b) further the interests of any political party or cause; – conducting a ‘workshop’ on behalf of Zanu PF
(c) prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause; or – their behavior in this case disadvantages bona fide political opposition parties in Zimbabwe
(d) violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person – school heads were forced to listen to Zanu PF indoctrination for two days
(3) Members of the security services must not be active members of any political party or organisation – the soldiers at the workshop clearly identified themselves with the ruling and ruining Zanu PF party.
It is these unconstitutional acts that have taken Zimbabwe where it is today. Lawlessness by the ruling party and its institutions especially the security sector have cemented our status as a pariah state. I wish to advise Mr ED Mnangagwa that he studies our own Zimbabwe constitution, implement its provisions to the letter before he boards planes to foreign lands asking for the normalisation of relations with foreigners. Charity begins at home ED woye. Ngatiyanane muZimbabwe medu first by sticking to our own laws. Allow your own citizens to enjoy their guaranteed fundamental human rights in their own country. If Zimbabweans cannot be free here in Zimbabwe, where do we expect them to enjoy their freedom? In foreign lands? This is wrong.
I call upon fellow Zimbabweans to continue to expose this regime for what it truly is; a lawless one. They are going too far in their attempt to forceably stay in power. Let’s remain steadfast in our quest for genuine and true freedom.
Our struggle continues. Aluta Continua
Trevor JL Saruwaka
MP Mutasa Central Constituency
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