Zimbabwe: Rallies Banned As Mugabe Boycotts Summit

11 April 2008
allAfrica.com

Police have banned all political rallies in Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe plans to boycott Saturday's summit of regional leaders called to discuss his country's election crisis.

Zimbabwe's government-controlled broadcaster, ZBC News, reported assistant police commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena as saying the police "will deal with any political party" which defies the ban on rallies. It was introduced on Friday "with immediate effect."

In a separate report, the broadcaster quoted the permanent secretary in the Zimbabwe foreign ministry, Joey Bimha, as saying the extraordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) - convened by the current SADC chairman, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia - was "unnecessary."

Three cabinet ministers would represent the country, ZBC News said. The meeting will be held in Zambia.

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