Activists kept away from city centre | Human Rights

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Activists kept away from city centre

Written by Gift Phiri

Friday, 23 October 2009 13:01

HARARE – Police last week barred human rights activists from marching through Harare city centre, ordering the rights campaigners to carry out their African Human Rights Day march at Harare Gardens, outside the central business district and away from the crowds. (Pictured: Police escorting rights activists marching on African Human Rights Day last week)

Harare Gardens on the western boundary of the city central business district is never a venue for public demonstrations. The park is instead frequented by lovers, wedding parties and other city residents seeking a time away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city centre.
Police officials told organisers of last Wednesday’s march that they could not be allowed into the city centre because the police did not have enough manpower to ensure law and order or public safety during the march as a huge number of officers was tied up with the ongoing COSAFA soccer tournament.
ZimRights and the Zimbabwe NGO Forum officials who were behind the march were told that it could only take place around Harare Gardens, an offer that the groups either had to accept or cancel the march altogether.
ZimRights director Okay Machisa told The Zimbabwean on Sunday: "In terms of us sharing our views and distributing certain messages to the government of Zimbabwe we managed to score, it was quite successful, but in terms of us gathering, we still think our right to march and send a signal to as many people as possible was curtailed.”
Africa Human Rights Day is commemorated every year on October 21, the day when the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights came into force in 1986.
The Charter seeks to protect and promote human rights in Africa while also upholding African values. However, the document has been violated many times by African leaders including President Robert Mugabe.
Meanwhile on a positive note, the police -- who a few months ago would have wasted no time breaking up such a march – this time round escorted the marchers, with a police lead vehicle clearing the way, while the police band marched along with the activists, playing music.

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