Police sued over tightened lockdown measures
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is being sued over demands for individuals to pass through roadblocks after President Emmerson Mnangagwa tightened the lockdown regulations.
Savanna News has learnt that a Harare woman Nontokozo Tachiona, has approached the High Court seeking an order to set aside increased demands by police officers enforcing the country’s Covid-19 lockdown measures at checkpoints.
In her court application, Tachiona argues that police demands are unconstitutional.
On Saturday, ZRP issued a statement with the list of documents needed for one to pass through a roadblock with each category having specific requirements in line with Covid-19 regulations.
Previously, ordinary citizens were asked to produce exemption letters and identity cards from their employers.
However, police now demand more documents for one to move around.
Tachiona lists Commissioner General Police Godwin Matanga, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe are listed as first, second, and third respondents respectively.
Part of Tachiona’s application reads, “The ZRP press statement of 25 July 2020 be and is hereby declared to be ultra vires Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 as amended by Statutory Instrument 174 of 2020. The ZRP press statement of 25 July 2020 be and is hereby declared to be unlawful and consequently of no force or effect.”
She wants the police to pay the cost of suit.
Over the weekend, ZRP imposed more strict lockdown measures as the number of Covid-19 infections in the country continued to surge towards 3 000.
For the health sector, according to police, members will now have to put on their uniforms while those in civilian attire will have to produce letters from a medical superintendent or CEO stating the place and dates and time of reporting on and off duty plus the contact details of the CEO.
“Food retailers will have to produce certified photocopies of shop licences and an exemption letter from local Officer in Charge,” said Nyathi.
This would also apply to sole traders.
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