Under an amendment to the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act gazetted on 17 November, the powers of the police have been significantly strengthened. The Law and Order Maintenance (Amendment) Bill 1979 specifies that power to prohibit processions and meetings will be transferred from district officers to police officers commanding districts, and that any person organizing a procession or meeting must apply for permission to a police officer. (Parliamentary Debates 30.8.79).
Four political rallies which were to have been held by ZAPU (Patriotic Front) on 17/18 November in preparation for British-supervised elections were banned by the police.
A spokesman for the regime said that ZAPU was a banned party and would remain so until the British Governor arrived to run the country for the transitional period leading to new elections. (S. Tel. 18.11.79)
