By John Cassim
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Police announced a month-long ban on demonstrations in Zimbabwean capital Harare in a notice circulated Tuesday following a series of protests often marred by violence.
Ch. Supt. Newbert Saunyama, the commander of Harare Central district, issued the “proposed temporary prohibition order” on public demonstrations and processions. A previous two-week ban was overturned by a High Court judge as unconstitutional last week.
An Aug. 26 demonstration in Harare, which had been allowed to go ahead by the High Court after a police attempt to block it, saw protesters calling for electoral reform tear gassed and beaten by police.
Zimbabwe has been rocked by rising political tension in the past few months as the country's economy suffers the effects of alleged corruption and economic mismanagement. President Robert Mugabe’s opponents have called on him to stand down after 36 years of alleged misrule.
Mugabe has criticized judges for allowing protests to go ahead, saying the courts have been reckless.
Ester Chirinda, spokeswoman for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Task Force, said the fresh ban was unconstitutional and would be challenged in the courts.
Political analyst Fortune Gwaze added: “Statutory instruments must be laid before the National Assembly in accordance with its standing orders and submitted to the Parliamentary Legal Committee for scrutiny.”