Zesn flags biased application of Mopa

Source: Zesn flags biased application of Mopa – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY EVANS MATHANDA
THE Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has expressed concern over selective application of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa) on political parties campaigning for the Saturday by-elections.

This was after police blocked opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rallies last week.

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga told Zanu PF supporters in Mutare last week that CCC should blame the police for blocking its rallies.

Speaking at the Institute for Young Women Development workshop in Harare last week, Zesn monitoring and observation manager Ian Goredema said: “It is expected that political parties must compete on an equal basis at law.  All political parties must have equal periods to campaign, but as you know that in Zimbabwe, this is far from being true especially when the governing party is able to campaign throughout the electoral cycle, but others are restricted.”

Zanu PF commissar Mike Bimha last week said CCC should canvass for support on social media.

CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba told NewsDay that the police were acting professionally, but the Zanu PF-led government was interfering in their work.