Police presence in Mvurwi at the Salvation Army church foil National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) protest

Police in Mvurwi foiled a demonstration under the banner of the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) that was scheduled for today Saturday the 17th of September.

Police denied permission for the demonstration citing manpower shortage.

Surprisingly by 7am in the morning there was a heavy police presence at the the Salvation Army church where the march was scheduled to begin and at the shops where the marchers where supposed to pass by.

Police could be seen roaming around with their shields and baton sticks whilst others moved around in lorry seemingly ready to pounce on peaceful protesters demanding electoral reforms as we approach the much anticipated 2018 elections.

The show of force by the police was in response to threats by the organisers of the event among them Tonderai Samhu that they would proceed with the protest with or without permission from the police as he stormed out of the police station where he his presence had been requested to inform him of the refusal to proceed with the demo by the district police commanding officer .

However a few brave youths managed to move around Mvurwi holding placards and singing “Ihondo Muchengete vana” in MDC T shirts demanding electoral reforms whilst chanting party songs and encouraging other residents to b.

Information gathered by Bulawayo24 indicates that the police officers are under orders to ruthless deal with protesters who defy the ban. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that police are after this reporter and want to question him regarding the protest. By Simbarashe Sithole. Source – Byo24News