ELLIOT Mabeza, an official with the Nelson Chamisa-led opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party in Beitbridge East, literally got himself between the horns of a dilemma after he allegedly organised an unsanctioned pre-electoral rally in the border district on March 13 this year.

The 54-year old Mabeza who is the CCC Chairperson in Beitbridge East,  is now being accused of contravening the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11:23] by law authorities in Zimbabwe.

He is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

‘a Initially the ZLHR had tweeted, identifying Mabeza (above left) as merely a ‘resident arrested and charged for contravening MOPO Act’ before the CCC reacted on the micro-blogging site, confirming the 54-year old’s political designation.

“In Beitbridge, we are representing 54 year-old Elliot Mabeza, a resident arrested (and) charged for contravening MOPO Act after he allegedly convened a @CCCZimbabwe campaign rally on 13 March. We are also representing another resident 49 year-old Pardon Ruvengera, arrested (and) charged for allegedly breaching the Electoral Act,” tweeted the ZLHR.

On Mabeza’s issue, and, in thanking the ZLHR for representing him, the CCC Matabeleland South Province said:

“Maveza is the CCC Beitbridge East chairperson. Thank You

@ZLHRLawyers!”
The MOPO Act is considered as one of the draconian legislations in Zimbabwe and according to the act,
‘a convener is required to give a convening notice to a regulating authority, such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered to the police officer in charge of a police station closest in proximity to the place where the gathering is proposed to be held or, in the absence of the police officer in charge, the most senior officer present in that police station‘.
Opinion leaders say the Act has been used to ban opposition party rallies during elections, as was the case in the just-ended by-elections held last week.
Zwnews