Harare - Police in Zimbabwe Monday questioned a leading
rights activist for two hours over allegations he failed to seek
police clearance before leading demonstrations, the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) said.
NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku had been told to report to a police
station in the capital Harare early on Monday morning, said
spokesperson Madock Chivasa in a statement.
Madhuku, a trained lawyer, was questioned by six police officers
who indicated their worry over the NCA's stance of not seeking
clearance from the police before demonstrating, Chivasa said.
The NCA, an umbrella grouping representing churches, rights and
student groups in crisis-hit Zimbabwe, regularly organizes
demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe's government.
The latest protest was last Wednesday, when NCA members tried to
demonstrate in Harare against plans by some in the ruling party to
extend Mugabe's term by two years to 2010.
One protester was tortured at the hands of the police during the
protest and is still recovering in hospital, the NCA alleges.
The NCA spokesperson reiterated his group's refusal to seek
police clearance for marches, as required under Zimbabwe's tough
Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
'We don't recognize laws that undermine our basic freedoms of
association and expression,' said Chivasa.
'For as long as the police behave like government puppets they
will not get the respect that they are crying out for from the NCA,'
he added, promising more demonstrations to come.
Madhuku was released after two hours of questioning.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
Your Talkback on this Story