Restrictions on freedom of association and assembly have a negative bearing on the overall performance of an economy, top economist, Professor Ashok Chakravarti has warned government.
Chakravarti, who is also a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, an advisory to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) told delegates at the Big Debate on Democracy held this morning in Harare that Zimbabwe was not doing well in respecting the rights of assembly, which could spell catastrophic results for the already beleaguered economy.
“There should be freedom of association and there should not be restrictions on peaceful demonstrations or should I say peaceful assemblies. So we are not doing well on that one,”
“You need to have a system with checks and balances. If the leadership makes a mistake, there has to be people who speak up to say this is wrong so that you can change your mind and that’s what democracy is all about,” Chakravarti said.
Recently, Zimbabwean’s main opposition political party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) together with other human rights defenders have been denied rights to demonstrate over the deteriorating state of affairs in the economy.
