GWERU – Police has called on political parties to observe the Maintenance of Peace Act (MOPA) so
that they do not run into trouble as the country moves towards the August 23 plebiscite.
Addressing political parties during the Midlands Province multi-party liaison committee meeting for
the August general elections, Officer Commanding Police Gweru Urban Chief Superintendent
Tambudzai Bibian Gumpo said police will not hesitate to arrest those who fail to operate within the
confines of the law.
“The Maintenance of Peace Act should be adhered to so that you (political parties) are not caught
on the wrong side of the law,” she said.
Chief Supt. Gumpo said although the law only requires political parties to notify the police of their
impending rallies or meetings, the regulating authority, who is a senior police officer in charge of a
district, can prohibit it if the notification does not satisfy security requirements.
Political parties, she said, must be accountable for their meetings by appointing conveners who are
held responsible if the meetings degenerate into chaos.
She allayed fears that some political parties can book a number of meetings for speculative
purposes, so as to hinder others.
“We will handle notifications one at a time on a first come, first serve basis provided they are
meeting requirements of the law.
“When you come to us you will not be applying but notifying us. If you give your notification, but we
have information that your event may be a threat, we are authorised as the regulating authority to
serve you with a prohibition notice outlining the reasons.
“If you are not satisfied with my prohibition, you have the right to take the prohibition notice to
court and challenge it. The court will make a determination on whether you can go ahead or not.
“If there is no compliance with the law, we already have the convener and the assistant who will be
arrested and others follow,” said Chief Supt. Gumpo.
She reminded political parties that it was not allowed to have meetings where another political party
is conducting its own.
“They can be done in one area but not at the same place, venues should be well apart so that there
is no interference,” she said.
The senior police officer said readiness of the police to deal with any event can be determined by
the number of people attending the meeting.
“If we are overwhelmed, we engage with you and make proposals so that we find a way forward,”
she said.
Chief Supt. Gumpo assured political parties that the police will deal with all issues impartially.
