Zimbabwe has imposed anti-graft regulations allowing police to hold people suspected of economic crimes for up to seven days, the state-run Herald newspaper reported on Saturday.
The regulations would "facilitate the investigation and prosecution of crimes affecting the economic interests of Zimbabwe", it said.
President Robert Mugabe's government recently launched an anti-corruption blitz pledging to get tough on fraud and graft.
The Herald said the new regulations, which took effect on Friday, allowed police to detain suspected economic criminals for up to seven days.
No judge could overrule the detention "solely on the basis that there are no prima facie grounds for the charge", it said.
The law covers people charges from corruption and money laundering to illegal dealing in gold or precious stones and unauthorised trade in food products controlled by the state Grain Marketing Board.
Courts would have powers to permit a further 21 days of detention if they believed the charges were founded, the Herald said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the new regulations violated Zimbabwe's constitution by removing the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
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