Zimbabwe Rights Groups, Opposition Stage Online Protest Against Constitutional Amendments
May 07, 2021
FILE - Jestina Mukoko, a director of rights group Zimbabwe Peace Project, is one of the organizers of the #ResistDictatorshipConstitution online rally, pictured in Harare, Dec. 2020. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA)
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Zimbabwean opposition and rights groups have held an online protest against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow the president to handpick top judges. Thousands of people viewed the Thursday night rally, which was streamed online to avoid arrests amid a coronavirus lockdown and ban on public gatherings.
Stanley Gwanzura – better known as Pastor G, a Zimbabwean gospel musician – sang “It Shall Be Well” as the opposition and rights groups started the online “rally” Thursday evening.
“Alert Zimbabwe: I have received information that the Mnangagwa regime wants to arrest me today for the offence which I don’t know. They are alleging that I undermined the authority of the police by Tweeting about the kid allegedly assaulted by them. I have alerted everyone.”
“I am gathering that after my arrest they want to expose me to Covid-19. If anything happens to me let it be known to Zimbabweans that I am Covid-free as I speak. Few days ago I warned about the plot by the regime & they really want to arrest me for no apparent reason. Oppression.”