About 200 anti-government activists in Harare demonstrated on Thursday against a barrage of repressive Bills that were introduced into the Zimbabwean legislature.
Early morning commuters looked on as members of the National Constitutional Assembly, pressing for a democratic constitution, marched through the city centre strewing thousands of leaflets condemning planned laws that threaten the existence of the vigorous civil liberties lobby.
Only two people were arrested as the demonstrators were dispersing, said NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku. Police were caught by surprise, ”We were too early for them,” he said. The government has effectively banned public protests and usually meets them with violent baton charges, teargas and arrests.
Also on Thursday, 47 women who have been in police detention since Tuesday after demonstrating against the Non-Governmental Organisations Bill, were expected to face a court later.
The controversial NGO Bill and the Electoral Bill which reinforces the government’s control of elections and a third Bill tightening state controls on the press were tabled in parliament on Wednesday.
The legislature, dominated by Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party, was adjourned until next Tuesday to allow the parliamentary legal watchdog to scrutinise the Bills for contraventions of constitutional rights. Lawyers say the parliamentary committee can only briefly delay laws that violate human rights.
The NGO Bill and the electoral Bill are considered Mugabe’s strategy of securing victory in parliamentary elections next March.
The electoral Bill is meant to establish an independent election commission to administer elections, but critics noted that the body is effectively appointed by Mugabe himself.
On Wednesday in parliament, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would not have access to the state-controlled media during the run-up to the elections. The regime controls all radio and television stations and daily newspapers.
”If you are an al-Qaeda, you cannot be expected to be given access to the public media,” he said, adding, ”You cannot expect the MDC to be given the right to say Mugabe must go in the public media.”
In July, Mugabe signed a regional Southern African treaty which commits all members to hold democratic elections, but the MDC says the Harare regime has no intention of fulfilling its obligations.
The government has been forced to appear as if it is complying, said MDC legal spokesman David Coltart. In fact, there is no compliance.
The 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) principles on democratic elections demand political tolerance, a conducive environment, freedom of association and freedom of expression.
During questioning in parliament on Wednesday, Chinamasa told MDC MPs that the SADC treaty was not a binding law, but simply a guideline.
The MDC says it will not participate in the election until the government meets the SADC principles in full by abolishing state security legislation under which opponents are still arrested and lifting controls on the independent press.
More than 300 people, nearly all opposition supporters, were murdered during elections in 2000 and 2002, and thousands have been arrested, tortured, assaulted and driven from their homes.
After the 2002 presidential elections, the Commonwealth said Mugabe’s victory was the result of fraud and bloody intimidation and suspended Zimbabwe. – Sapa-DPA