ZIMBABWE: Two months before facing re-election, President Robert Mugabe has railroaded two dictatorial bills into law that will make it practically impossible for the opposition to campaign against him, writes Declan Walsh.
The Public Order and Security Bill gives the state sweeping powers over political opponents.
Police can search, arrest and detain individuals without explanation. Unauthorised public gatherings are illegal, as are "false statements prejudicial to the state".
And it has become an offence to "undermine the authority of the president by making statements or publishing statements that provoke hostility", effectively silencing the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), President Mugabe's only threat in the March poll.
Penalties for these offences, branded a "package of fascist rules" by the MDC, are life imprisonment or death.
A second piece of legislation - an amendment to the electoral bill - bans independent election monitors, outlaws voter education by non-governmental organisations, and forbids unauthorised postering or distribution of pamphlets.
The amendment had been already defeated on Tuesday but was successfully re-introduced in a complete contravention of parliamentary rules. A third bill, which would ban foreign journalists and severely restrict the local press, is due to be heard when parliament resumes early next week.
The laws will make it "almost impossible" to carry out a free and fair election, said MDC leader and presidential contender, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. "This is a declaration of a one-party state." The MDC does not intend to boycott the poll, he added, but will "engage in massive consultation over the next step forward".
If the MDC continues, it faces an uphill and possibly bloody battle. Earlier this week the army stated it would not allow an MDC victory but would only support leaders who rebelled against white rule. President Mugabe fought against the racist Ian Smith regime during the 1970s while Mr Tsvangirai was a trade union activist.
The repressive measures came as a Zimbabwe delegation travelled to Brussels for meetings today with a mid-level EU delegation, which is anxious to discuss the sharp deterioration in human rights.
The Information Minister, Mr Jonathan Moyo, and the Justice Minister, Mr Patrick Chinamasa, were due to represent the government. Several MEPS have urged the EU to impose sanctions but it may already be too late. Under an agreement signed with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, aid can only be suspended after a delay of 60 days. The elections are scheduled to start on March 9th - some 58 days from today.