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Zimbabwe police ban protests in capital for next 2 weeks

In the past two months, Zimbabwe has been hit by a wave of protests against President Robert Mugabe’s government.

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“The notice is definitely unconstitutional but there is not enough time to challenge it and get a judgment before the demonstration tomorrow, so we made a decision to postpone it”, Mwonzora said.

In Bulawayo, at least seven people were detained as police broke up a group of about 30 protesters, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group said. Zimbabwean police have responded with tear gas, water cannon and sometimes violence, prompting many to flee the country following the security crackdown.

Mugabe, 92, has ruled since the country’s independence in 1980, and has vowed to stand again as president.

The opposition earlier postponed its planned protest on Friday to demand electoral reforms towards the general elections in 2018.

Opposition parties led by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) chief Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice-president Joice Mujuru had planned to gather in the city on Friday for a march.

“The court struggles to imagine how such a man of advanced age participates in violence”, Mahwe said.

His spokesman had denied reports that Mugabe, the target of near-daily protests in recent weeks, was ill.

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Since the demonstrations started, several groups have emerged and opposition political parties have joined the protests, in a move that has left Mugabe and his government shaken to the core.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa