By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of the August 23 presidential and parliamentary polls, the police in Zimbabwe have stopped the main opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from launching its campaign.
Scheduled to hold on Sunday, this is seen as the latest clampdown on the President Emerson Mnangagwa’s main challenge.
The government had earlier imposed a compulsory nomination cost of $20,000 against the previous $1000 a move opposition leaders said was aimed as disenfranchising them.
The police cited problems with the planned venue of the campaign flag off.
In a letter sighted by Reuters on Friday, police said the opposition party could not conduct the rally in Bindura, 90 km (56 miles) north of the capital Harare, saying the venue was not suitable for a gathering. The police say the venue lacks accessibility to water and sanitary facilities.
“It provides a high security threat to participants,” it the letter added.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), leader, Nelson Chamisa expected to test his popularity with Mnangagwa next month has faced several hurdles on the campaign trail, with police banning a number of meetings in Zimbabwean cities and towns this week.
Mnangagwa, 80, of the ZANU-PF has held sway since the ouster of the Zimbabwean strong man, Robert Mugabe in 2017.
