digital rights oppression in Zimbabwe

 Check report on Global Voices.

the law is enabling the blocking of opposition voices.

more at Netblocks.

hmm... I wonder if Starlink service would enable the news to get out. But I lack expertise in this area.

Opposition leader arrested for tour of empty supermarket

By Lance Guma
06 September 2007

MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai has been charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ over a tour he undertook assessing shops affected by government’s controversial price freeze. Although the tour took place over a month ago the charge is only being raised now. Observers have noted that this is just two days after the deportation of police commissioner Augustine Chihuri’s son Sylvester from Australia. Eight students with Zanu PF parents were kicked out of the country on Monday, much to the fury of the police chief.

Tsvangirai’s lawyer Alec Muchadehama told us they suspect the Manager of an OK supermarket in Mufakose was arm twisted into filing a complaint. The manager claims Tsvangirai disrupted business at the shop by moving around with over 30 bodyguards, journalists and photographers. Pictures of empty shelves were taken without the manager’s consent it is further claimed. The entourage toured Gutsai supermarket in central Harare, OK Mufakose, OK Glen View 3 and Makro wholesalers in Braeside, to assess the impact of the price blitz. Tsvangirai described the blitz as unsustainable and politically motivated.

On Thursday the MDC leader was quizzed for more than an hour before being released....

Mugabe censors internet, email

In the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe has enacted a law granting state security agents full authority to surveil landline and mobile phones, postal mail and what little internet is available anyway, according to a government notice published on Friday. Snip from wire service report:

The law gives police and the departments of national security, defence intelligence and revenue powers to order the interception of communications and provides for the creation of a monitoring centre.

Postal, telecommunications and internet service providers will be required to ensure that their "systems are technically capable of supporting lawful interceptions at all times".

Critics have said the law is a government ploy to keep tabs on the opposition at a time when political tensions are mounting and Mugabe is deflecting growing criticism from Western powers.

Zim backs net spying law

Zimbabwe's MPs have passed a law to allow the government to monitor e-mails, telephone calls, the internet and postal communications.

Opposition MP David Coltart called it a "fascist piece of legislation" aimed at cracking down on political dissent.

But Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe defended it, saying it was similar to anti-terror laws elsewhere such as in the UK, US and South Africa....

President Robert Mugabe's government already faces criticism for laws that curtail free speech and movement.

Web records

The bill obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to install equipment, at their own expense, which will allow a monitoring service to intercept e-mails......