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Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s move to disrupt Zimdancehall chanter Winky D’s show on Saturday was in breach of the Maintenance Peace and Order (MOPA) Act, Dzivarasekwa Legislator Edwin Mushoriwa has said.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Mushoriwa highlighted that the Police’s disruption of such shows is a serious assault on the Arts Industry.
“My point of National Interest is in response to the fact that 2 days ago, one of our popular musicians in this country Winky D’s show in Chitungwiza was disrupted by the police. A few hours after that, the show of another musician Baba Harare was also declined to perform
Mr. Speaker Sir, musicians are the cog of our arts industry and they do give entertainment to all of us, hence I am requesting that the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs should come before this august House with a Ministerial Statement to explain what the situation is pertaining to our musicians, whether there is now limitation or ban that musicians can no longer perform and do their work without fear from being harassed.
He further said that such actions would hinder the arts industry from contributing towards the country’s GDP.
“Primarily, I say this because if you read the provision of MOPA, it does not require the sort of interference that we are actually seeing. So this is my request that can the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs come before this august House and explain the position because it is actually a stab on our arts industry which if you check from the Hon. Minister of Finance, has actually been generating some resources towards our gross domestic product,” he said.
MOPA Act governs gatherings, processions and public demonstrations and thus impacts the freedoms of assembly and expression in Zimbabwe.
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