HARARE – Forty Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters who include party aspiring MP for Glenview South, were arrested Tuesday in Harare’s Machipisa suburb for allegedly holding an unsanctioned car procession to solicit support ahead on next week’s elections.
Police confirmed the arrest of Gladmore Hakata and his opposition comrades on Tuesday.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of 40 Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) activists in Machipisa this afternoon for contravening provisions of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act, Chapter 11:23 (MOPA),” police said in a statement.
“Circumstances are that the CCC convenor, Lawrence Materege notified the local Regulating Authority for Harare South on their rally set for Churu Farm on 15th August 2023 from 10AM to 4PM.
“The convenor and Gladmore Hakata then decided to divert from the notified rally at Churu Farm and went on a car rally procession from Glen View area into High Glen Road, Main Street, Machipisa Road into Highfield suburb and stopped at the OK Machipisa traffic lights while openly blocking traffic.
“They started to chant party slogans and singing.”
According to police, a “concerned” citizen made an official report resulting in the activists’ arrest.
“Police reacted and arrested 40 CCC activists who were led by Gladmore Hakata. Hakata actually scuffled with the police officers as they effected arrests,” Nyathi said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also recovered the three trucks and radio speakers which were being used by the CCC supporters in the unsanctioned car rally.”
CCC continues to accuse police of being biased against the opposition party, which poses the most realistic chance to upstage Zanu PF in the August 23 elections.
