In response to the ruling by the High Court in Zimbabwe yesterday upholding a 30-day police ban on protests in the capital Harare, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, Muleya Mwananyanda, said:
Source: Court ruling upholding police ban on protests must be rescinded – The Zimbabwean 05.10.2016
“The ruling must be rescinded and the ban lifted as it infringes the fundamental right to freedom of assembly. Police must not be given carte blanche to impose a blanket ban on protests which are protected by the country’s constitution, and Zimbabwe’s international human rights commitments. Instead of outlawing peaceful assemblies, the government would do well to ensure the safety of people who choose to peacefully exercise their right to protest.”
Background
Yesterday’s ruling by Justice George Chiweshe invalidated a previous court order that had found the ban to be unconstitutional.
The police declared that no protests would be allowed in Harare for 30 days from 16 September to 15 October, a decision it said was aimed at preserving peace.
Other previous court rulings have also allowed for peaceful protests.
COMMENTS
They know that their time is up, there is no money left and that people will not accept bond notes. All hell is about to break out.
Judgement handed down in exchange for a farm or two. So much for “Justice in Zimbabwe” – it’s for sale!! The Constitution remains supreme in Zimbabwe, not statements by our discredited police force – that is really scary.
Retired Brigadier General George Mutandwa Chiweshe (born June 5, 1953) is the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. He was born in the Mazowe district of Mashonaland Central, just northeast of Harare. Chiweshe attended Tendayi Primary School in 1961 and subsequently Fletcher Secondary School in 1969. Chiweshe obtained his law degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1988.
Chiweshe joined ZANLA in 1975 after fleeing from the then University of Rhodesia as a law student. He trained in Mozambique. Chiweshe deputised the present Zimbabwe National Army General Constantine Chiwenga; and commanded to the likes of the late Zimbabwean hero Brigadier General Charles Tigwe Gumbo. His nom de guerre was “Yasser Arafat.” Chiweshe rose through the ranks to political commissar. After independence, Chiweshe joined the Ministry of Justice as a prosecutor in 1980 and became a magistrate three years later. He later joined the Zimbabwe National Army in April 1983 as a major and rose through the ranks from Major to Brigadier General (Judge Advocate General) in 1996. Chiweshe retired from the army in April 2001 after being appointed to the bench by President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
In September 2004 Chiweshe was appointed Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of Zimbabwe by Mugabe, a move that was criticised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change as a ploy by ZANU PF to rig the March 2005 parliamentary elections. In January 2005, Chiweshe was appointed Chairman of the new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (a body that supervises and co-ordinates all elections in Zimbabwe), where he presently serves.
In May 2010, President Mugabe swore in George Chiweshe, former chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as Judge President. This appointment brought about massive protests by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.[1]
Considering the linkage og George Chiweshe, what justice may he deliver that favours opposition
Chimbwasungwata chamugabe rubbish!!!!! Muchadura nguva yakwana