[kictanet] It's official: Mugabe sorts the mail

[Alex Gakuru]

[JURIST] (via africa.rights.apc.org)
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/zimbabwe-president-approves.php

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has signed off on
the controversial Interception of Communications Bill,
which establishes a government communications
surveillance agency and authorizes the government to
intercept communications across the telephone, the
Internet, and other electronic communication devices.
The bill, which has been criticized by opposition
lawmakers as an effort to consolidate power and crack
down on dissent, will also allow the government to
open conventional mail, requires communication
services providers to facilitate the interception and
storage of private communications at the government's
request. The legislation was approved in June by both
the Senate and House of Assembly.

Mugabe has been criticized for his handling of the
economy of Zimbabwe and his increasingly authoritarian
rule. In July, Zimbabwean police reports indicated the
arrest of at least 1300 shop owners and managers who
refused to comply with price controls that halved the
prices of all goods and services. Zimbabwe's inflation
rate, which is reportedly exceeding 5000 percent, is
largely attributed to Mugabe's controversial
white-owned farm seizure program as previously
productive farms have become barren under
inexperienced new owners. In June, the International
Commission of Jurists accused the Zimbabwean
government of "interfering with the proper functioning
of the administration of justice, the role of lawyers
and their independence". In May, Zimbabwean police
refused to comply with a High Court ruling requiring
police officials to vacate a farm seized by police in
March, and responded by ordering more police on to the
property. In March, opposition leader and presidential
hopeful Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested and beaten
while in police custody. Police officials have
routinely ignored court orders and critics have
alleged that Mugabe has given tacit approval to their
actions. BBC News has more.


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