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Zimbabwe to relax security laws Zimbabwe to relax security laws
(10 minutes later)
Zimbabwe's government is to ease its tough security and media laws, responding to opposition demands at talks to end the political crisis.Zimbabwe's government is to ease its tough security and media laws, responding to opposition demands at talks to end the political crisis.
The existing laws have been used to block opposition political rallies and to shut down the private press.The existing laws have been used to block opposition political rallies and to shut down the private press.
Under the changes, the police must give reasons to ban a rally and a magistrate can be asked to overturn a ban.Under the changes, the police must give reasons to ban a rally and a magistrate can be asked to overturn a ban.
President Robert Mugabe was last week confirmed as his party's candidate in elections due next March.President Robert Mugabe was last week confirmed as his party's candidate in elections due next March.
The revisions were agreed at talks, brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki, between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the two opposition factions. The revisions were agreed at talks brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the two opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions.
Details of the talks have been mostly secret but on Sunday, one faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said they were "deadlocked". Details of the talks have been mostly secret but on Sunday, one MDC group said they were "deadlocked".
Proposed changes Bi-partisan
The Public Order and Security Act (Posa), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) and the Broadcasting Services Act are to be amended.The Public Order and Security Act (Posa), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) and the Broadcasting Services Act are to be amended.
At present, those who intend to organise public meetings, political rallies or demonstrations can only appeal to the minister of home affairs if the police ban their meeting.At present, those who intend to organise public meetings, political rallies or demonstrations can only appeal to the minister of home affairs if the police ban their meeting.
The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) will be changed by reconstituting a state-appointed commission that regulates the country's media. President Mugabe is trying to extend his 27 years in office
Members of the commission are to be named by a bi-partisan parliamentary committee. In March, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was severely assaulted after being arrested for attending a banned rally.
Although the media will be opened to foreign owners, foreign journalists will remain barred from working permanently in the country. Mr Mugabe later said he had "asked for it" by ignoring police warnings.
Under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa), there will be changes to the commission that regulates the country's media.
Members of the commission are to be named from a list submitted by a bi-partisan parliamentary committee and should have media experience, reports the Reuters news agency.
Journalists' unions will also be on the commission, says AFP.
Although the media is to be opened to foreign owners, foreign journalists will remain barred from working permanently in the country.
In 2003, Zimbabwe's best-selling daily newspaper, the Daily News was closed down, after a series of run-ins with the government.
It is still trying to be allowed to publish again.