AT least two Gwanda residents were yesterday picked up by police for questioning for mobilising people to demonstrate over the water crisis that has hit the town for a week now.
Albert Ncube Own Correspondent
Gwanda Residents Association (GRA) spokesman, Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo was quizzed for mobilising people to demonstrate after police refused to sanction a peaceful demonstration by residents.
By the time of going to print, Fuzwayo had been given an hour to go and get the association’s constitution and the list of the committe members.
Msizi Gumbo, a resident, was picked up by police while taking pictures of demonstrators who gathered to collect water at municipality offices after the demonstration was thwarted.
Gumbo is reportedly being charged with practising journalism without accreditation.
At the time of writing, he was still in police custody.
In a letter written by officer commanding Gwanda district, Superintendent Stephen Mutema, to GRA the police cited political reasons for barring the demonstration.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“This office cannot sanction the holding of this demonstration or procession as it is untimely as the security situation in Gwanda is not favourable,” reads the notice.
“The police are currently engaged in other activities and do not have the capacity to accommodate or have adequate coverage of your demonstration.”
Mutema further argues the police, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and Gwanda council are still engaging to ensure the water crisis is resolved and pleaded with GRA to be patient.
Contacted for comment Mutema refused to answer questions referring this publication to police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele who was not answering his phone.
“Why do you contact me? Speak to the police spokesperson, don’t make a story out of me,” he fumed.
Police banned the Gwanda demonstration a few days after they had given it the go ahead, but the GRA had warned it planned to proceed with the protests.
The decision to take to the streets came amid rumours of a cholera outbreak after a child, who exhibited symptoms of the disease, was admitted at Gwanda hospital, but tests proved negative.
Fuzwayo said police had on Friday given them the green light to protest, before backtracking.
“We are further disturbed as residents to get a notice from the police saying they are unable to sanction our demonstration, which we believe is our constitutional right,” he said.
Gwanda has since last Monday experienced erratic water supplies after Zinwa began rationing water to force the cash strapped municipality of Gwanda to pay part of its $7 million debt.
Zinwa has been pumping water for four hours a day, arguing it does not have enough purification chemicals, plunging the town into a water crisis.
The water crisis resulted in the death of a police constable, Marshall Gwanzura last Wednesday, as he took a bath at Mtshabezi River.
The crisis has also seen a surge in diarrhoea cases, after a rusty bowser was used to supply water to Spitzkop residents.
Gwanda hospital has also been adversely affected especially the maternity wing, with relatives of patients on admission being told to bring their own water.
