Zimbabwe Opposition Challenges Protest March Ban

Muchadehama said there was nothing legally standing in the way of Wednesday´s planned march.

Zimbabwe's main opposition launched a legal challenge to a police ban on a march against the government of President Robert Mugabe that it has planned for Wednesday.

The police had initially allowed the march, which the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) called to protest against a crumbling economy blamed on government mismanagement, and to press for a new constitution that would guarantee that elections due in March are free and fair.

On Tuesday, MDC lawyer Alec Muchadehama said the Harare magistrate court would on Wednesday hear an application to overturn the ban, which police say was prompted by fears the demonstration would degenerate into violence and looting.

"We are making an appeal against the regulatory authorities' decision to prohibit the march. We filed the application in terms of the new Public Order and Security Act," Muchadehama told Reuters.

Zimbabwe has adopted changes to its security laws -- seen by critics as aimed at suppressing Mugabe's opponents -- to compel police to spell out their reasons for refusing a political party the right to hold a public meeting.

Muchadehama said there was nothing legally standing in the way of Wednesday's planned march, which police had originally allowed to start at 11:15 a.m. (0915 GMT).

MDC officials were not reachable for comment on Tuesday.

In remarks broadcast on state television, police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said the police would be out in full force on Tuesday to stop the march.

Zimbabweans have tended to shy away from demonstrations in recent years, mainly from fear of a heavy-handed response by security forces.