POLICE in Matabeleland North last week reportedly barred Bulawayo Agenda from holding consultative meetings, alleging the civic organisation did not have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with authorities.
NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER
Bulawayo Agenda had organised public meetings with traditional leaders, councillors and government departments in Tsholotsho and Lupane on Thursday and Friday, but police reportedly disrupted the meetings claiming the organisation did not have MoUs to hold meetings with local authorities.
Butholezwe Nyathi, an official at the organisation, condemned the police action as illegal and unconstitutional.
“We had convened district accountability conferences in Lupane and Tsholotsho, but police refused to sanction them as they claimed we have no MoU with the local authorities, yet no law in Zimbabwe requires these,” he said.
“We had completed introductions in both meetings only for the police to disrupt us.
“We are duly registered as a trust and have the liberty to operate in any part of Zimbabwe.
“We had invited councillors, government departments and all other office bearers who have a mandate to provide services to people.”
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Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, is said to be on leave, while no comment could be obtained from her colleagues.
Bulawayo Agenda director Mmeli Dube said the organisation would take the police to the courts as “this is blatant disregard and abuse of the law”.
“What they are doing is illegal and unconstitutional,” he said.
“They are violating our rights and we are taking them to court, as we cannot allow them to continue violating our rights and the law.”
