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Zim police extend rally ban
24/03/2007 16:44 - (SA)
Harare - Police in the Zimbabwean capital Harare had extended a ban on political rallies and demonstrations for another month amid fears of fresh unrest, the official Herald newspaper reported on Saturday.
This meant that a rally called by a breakaway faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and scheduled in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza on Sunday could meet fierce police resistance.
The authorities first banned rallies in February for periods lasting between one and three months.
Zimbabwe's security laws, however, do not appear to allow for three-month bans, so police reissued the ban on Friday.
In separate notices published in the Government Gazette, officers commanding police districts in Harare and Chitungwiza said the bans would now last until the end of April, the Herald said.
Zimbabwe shot into the international spotlight two weeks ago when the Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a coalition of rights groups, churches and the opposition, tried to circumvent the ban by calling a prayer rally in Highfield township.
Riot police moved in swiftly, arrested dozens and brutally beat main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and a number of his colleagues.
There has been an international outcry over the police violence, which has sparked several revenge attacks.
A police station was petrol-bombed in the eastern city of Mutare on Friday. This is the third attack on a police post since the crisis began.
The Herald said a police post was bombed in the low-income township of Sakubva shortly after a group of youths taunted a police officer for supporting the government.
No one was injured in the attack.
- SAPA
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