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HARARE – Interior Minister Kazembe Kazembe has issued a chilling warning to opposition activists and civil society allies who he accuses of planning protests ahead of this month’s Southern African Development Community summit that would plunge the country into chaos.
Kazembe addressed the media at a press conference in Harare on Thursday, attended by Police Commissioner Godwin Matanga and several senior police officers.
Zimbabwe will host the Southern African Development Community summit in Harare on August 17, with heads of state and their delegations from 15 countries arriving in the country for the high-profile regional summit.
The Southern African Development Community leader has intervened in the unrest in Zimbabwe, where 78 activists from the main opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) have been spending time in detention prison since they were arrested on June 16, 2024 for participating in an illegal assembly.
Since their arrest, they have been denied bail by Zimbabwean courts.
The opposition accuses the country’s judiciary of being controlled by the rulers and ruling against opponents of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF).
“My fellow countrymen, we note with grave concern the relentless efforts of some misguided political activists who are trying their best to incite unrest and disrupt the smooth conduct of the summit,” Kazembe said while addressing the media at the government’s Mukwati House, which houses the interior ministry’s offices.
“Security services have knowledge of secret meetings being held both inside and outside the country by those seeking to launch civil disobedience.”
His comments followed a renewed government crackdown on opposition rallies, accusing the opposition of seeking to destabilize and embarrass the country as it prepares to host a Southern African Development Community summit.
On Wednesday, prominent human rights defenders Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere, Vusumuzi Sibanda and Samuel Gwenzi were kicked off a plane by police as they were about to fly to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Earlier, they had gone to the Harare Magistrate’s Court to show solidarity with former CCC Senator Jameson Timba and 77 other activists who remain in detention but were charged with disorderly conduct.
More than a dozen CCC activists, including an opposition MP, were also arrested during a protest in Kariba on Wednesday against the continued detention of Timba and party activists.
Opposition leaders Job Sikhala and Jacob Ngarivhume have also threatened to launch peaceful protests against the government.
Kazembe said the ZANU PF-led government would leave no stone unturned in suppressing ongoing and planned protests.
“We will not regret exercising this power, in accordance with the will of the people and through a universally recognized process,” he said.
“It must be acknowledged that those driving the protests have not availed themselves of internal legal remedies to address their alleged electoral grievances.
“Instead, they believe that political power can be gained through undemocratic, unconstitutional means.”
He said enough measures had been taken to “contain” opposition activists whom he accused of holding the wrong view “that only they and their leader (Nelson Chamisa) can lead the government.”
He added: “Historically, there have never been any peaceful demonstrations by the opposition.”
“It is indeed disappointing that some members of the opposition are keen on inciting public unrest at a time when they should be focusing on holding the summit.
“The timing that’s driving the demonstrations is not surprising. It has historical implications.”
Kazembe said: “We have been through similar situations before and were prepared to deal with them.
“Attempts to make the country ungovernable will be met with an appropriate response.”
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