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Dr Chris Mushohwe

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
THE Government yesterday castigated acts by opposition affiliated movements in Harare last week who went on an orgy of violence in the capital destroying property.

MDC-T youths and their surrogate group called Tajamuka tried to incite illegal forex and cash dealers to demonstrate against the Government following the gazetting of regulations criminalising cash vending.

After failing to find support, the MDC-T youths and Tajamuka activists unleashed violence, throwing stones at shops, forcing some banks and supermarkets to close briefly.

The rowdy demonstrators said they wanted to handover a petition to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya over shortages of cash.

Some of the criminals started looting from shops. Several shops had their windows stoned, while a vehicle belonging to Zanu-PF was damaged. A Daily News reporter Mugove Tafirenyika was injured in the protest.

In a statement, the Minister of Information Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr Christopher Mushohwe, said the law frowns upon violence and the disturbance of peace in the country.

“Government is gravely concerned with instances of violent protests perpetrated by opposition affiliated organisations using spurious excuses. While the law of the land allows public expression of dissent, the same law frowns at public violence and the disturbance of peace and tranquility in the country,” said Dr Mushohwe.

He said it was the responsibility of organisers of demonstrations to ensure that their activities were within the confines of the law.

“In any event the demonstrations must be well-founded, something quite hard to understand in respect of the mayhem that was unleashed last week on society by opposition elements,” said Dr Mushohwe.

“About two days before, Government had announced a raft of measures meant to comprehensively address the unwarranted price hikes and panic buying triggered by reckless communication on the social media. Still that did not stop these merchants of violence, clearly showing a premeditated plan to disturb peace in the country.”

Dr Mushohwe wished Mugove a speedy recovery calling on media houses to provide attire that makes it easy to identify journalists.

“Of particular concern is the injury suffered by the journalist in the ensuing melee. The law protects journalists who should be allowed to pursue their vocation unhindered and without fear or risk of bodily harm or injury.

“In the meantime, Government urges all media houses to ensure that their staff members are clad in attire that makes for easy identification of journalists on duty,” said Dr Mushohwe.

“Indeed this requirement came from the media industry itself, although it is still to be implemented.”

Dr Mushohwe said his ministry continues to liaise with law enforcement agencies to ensure maximum safety of journalists on duty and cultivate a healthy relationship between media personnel and law and order officers dealing with riotous situations that threaten peace.