Police on high alert ahead of planned protests

Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe says police have deployed their forces on the ground and are ready to deal with those mobilising for the March 31 looming street protests to remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

STATEMENT BY THE HON MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

The Government of Zimbabwe notes with deep concern themobilisation efforts, through social media postings, pseudopress statements and letters by criminally-inclined individuals and groups inciting peace-loving Zimbabweans to engage in unlawful gatherings that interfere with public order.

The illegal acts being mobilised undermine the prevalling security, peace and stability.

The retrogressive intents should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.

Those fronting the mobilisation should stand warned.

Their self-seeking, subversive and anti-development endeavours have been exposed.

May I reiterate that we have a Constitutional mandate to safeguard the security andterritorial integrity of this country and we will not apologize to fulfill thatmandate

May I take this opportunity, therefore, to assure the nationand all our visitors that the country’s security services areon high alert to ensure the sustained safety and security of the public.

Zimbabweans and our visitors should, therefore,feel secure and continue engaging in their usual socio-economic pursuits.

The Zimbabwean Republic Police has made adequate deployments to guarantee an environment conducive to socio-economic development and unhindered movement of people in all parts of the country.

May I also remind the public on the need to abide by theprovisions of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) ActChapter 24, which is categoric on the maintenance of publicorder.

Equally, I need not emphasize that we are all expected to remain guided by the provisions of Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Section 164 of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act on offences relating to electronic communications andmaterials.

The relevant instruments would be invoked to deal with those who unlawfully engage in transmitting, broadcasting and distributing data messages to any person, group of persons or to the public with intent to incite acts of violence against any persons or to cause damage to any property.

May I, once again, reiterate that anyone who tries to intimidate, threaten, harass or coerce the public to engage in criminal acts will certainly face the full wrath of law. T

he Commissioner General of Police will apply the law to itsfullest without fear or favour.In the same vein, I would like to encourage the peace-loving and patriotic citizenry to report anyone who incites violence and causes public despondency through the listedcontact details :

-• Harare Emergency Response Centre Toll Free 911 or1 1 2

• Harare Operations ( 0 2 4 2 ) 7 4 8 8 3 6 or 7 7 7 6 5 1

• H a r a r e C e n t r a lPolice (0242) 777777,777592/4/6/8, 777626

Bulawayo Emergency Response Centre Toll Free 112, 9 1 1

• Bulawayo Operations (0292) 273547or 883930

• National complaints desk (02 42703631

• Police General Headquarters WhatsApp 0712800197

The police commits and undertakes to respond to suchreports without delay.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to imploreZimbabweans to continue abiding by the law to effectively contribute towards the country’s attainment of an upper middle income economy status by 2030.I thank you.”

Meanwhile, police in Harare Chitungwiza and Bulawayo have issued prohibition orders against the carrying of weapons ahead od the protests, citing that there has been a sharp increase in murders hence the need to regulate weapons.