Momentum was growing on Friday in Zimbabwe for the holding of a weekend prayer rally by a church-led coalition in the capital, Harare, despite a police ban on political meetings.
Lucky Moyo, spokesperson for the Save Zimbabwe Campaign Taskforce, told the media that the group had informed the police of their intention to hold a peaceful prayer rally on Sunday in Highfield suburb, the site of skirmishes between police and opposition supporters last month.
Among those expected to attend the rally are the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and Arthur Mutambara, who heads a smaller rival faction of the party.
Moyo said that under tough security laws religious meetings do not need police clearance before they can go ahead.
”Legally there is no need to make an application [to the police]. It’s a prayer rally,” he said.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign has the support of churches, political parties and civic organizations.
It has been calling for a political solution to the country’s crises, including inflation of about 1 700%, collapsing health institutions, food shortages and growing restrictions on political parties and the press.
”The country is spiralling into chaos,” Moyo said.
Last month police banned political rallies and demonstrations in Harare and surrounding areas until May. The opposition says the ban amounts to a state of emergency.
It is not clear what reaction the police will have to this Sunday’s meeting. Last month they fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse MDC supporters who gathered in Highfield to launch Tsvangirai’s campaign for presidential elections due next year.
There were dozens of arrests.
Last weekend MDC activists blocked roads with burning tyres to thwart police who arrived to disrupt another planned rally in Harare’s Budiriro suburb. — Sapa-dpa