olice banned a planned mass march by the opposition, questioning organizers’ motives and saying the demonstration might not be peaceful, state radio reported Tuesday.The ban on the march, which had been scheduled Wednesday in the capital, was the first test of eased security laws the government said permitted political rallies and meetings previously routinely disallowed. The changes had been negotiated in preparation for elections expected in March.

The opposition was scheduled to appeal the ban Tuesday. Under the new legislation, only courts can ultimately ban political activities on security grounds.

The radio said police intelligence reports indicated the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was working “outside the spirit” of an initial agreement the march could go ahead. State radio added police believed there were “sinister motives” behind the march.

“Police do not believe the march will be held in a peaceful and tranquil manner and it is felt it is not in the interest of public security for it to proceed,” the radio said.

It said statements by opposition faction leader Morgan Tsvangirai, his spokesman Nelson Chamisa and other officials called for marchers on the “Freedom Walk” to exert pressure on the government and ruling party.

Tsvangirai, at a weekend rally, also repeated demands for more constitutional and electoral reforms ahead of polling and described new boundaries of voting districts redrawn by the state Electoral Commission to increase the number of parliament seats as a fraud.

The opposition has called for polling to be delayed to June to allow for its demands to be met, but President Robert Mugabe has insisted national elections are to take place by the end of March.

Changes to Zimbabwe’s media, security and electoral laws — negotiated in South Africa-mediated talks between the ruling party and opposition aimed at ending the nation’s political and economic crisis — were rushed through parliament at the end of 2007. They became law Jan. 11.

In addition to easing rules on protests, the revised media laws relax rules for journalists obtaining licenses, and set up a new licensing authority — the Zimbabwe Media Commission.

Independent media groups say the media amendments will also be put to the test in coming weeks as foreign journalists seek visas and state media accreditation to visit Zimbabwe for the elections. In the recent past, foreign journalists have routinely been denied visas and accreditation for reporting from Zimbabwe. AFP

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