Zimbabwe seizes opposition spokesman's passport

Zimbabwe seizes opposition spokesman's passport

• Zimbabwe seizes journalist's passport

• Mugabe targets 15 critics for travel ban

• Zim denies plot to curtail critics' travel

• Prof Jonathan Moyo: New amendments should face battle royal

• Prof Welshman Ncube: Constitutional reforms recipe for disaster

• Dr Alex Magaisa: Constitution without Constitutionalism

• Lucas Nkomo: The right to revolt against tyranny

• Tawanda Hove: Constitutional reforms and MDC mess

• US says Zim moves 'a sad step backwards'

• Rights groups condemn constitutional moves

• Paul Themba Nyathi: Dark day for democracy

• Parliament passes amendment bill

• Prof Jonathan Moyo: Constitutional madness will not save Zanu PF

• MDC ambush Zanu PF with draft constitution

• Zim tables bill to amend constitution

• Lawyers condemn constitutional amendment

• Alex Magaisa: Constitutional amendment spells doom for economy

By Lebo Nkatazo

ZIMBABWEAN authorities on Friday seized a second passport of a leading critic of President Robert Mugabe, just a day after journalist Trevor Ncube has his withdrawn by the government.

Paul Themba Nyathi, spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was arriving in Zimbabwe after a two-day visit to South Africa, his party said.

New Zimbabwe.com last week exclusively revealed the existence of a list of President Robert Mugabe's critics whose travel is to be curtailed under new constitutional amendments allowing the government to restrict the movement of Zimbabweans whose actions harm "the national interest"

On Thursday, members of President Robert Mugabe’s secret service, working with immigration officers, confiscated the passport of Ncube, owner of the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa and the Independent and Standard newspapers in Zimbabwe.

Reacting to the seizure of Nyathi's passport, MDC secretary general Professor Welshman Ncube said: “This is a spiteful move by the government. It confirms our suspicions that the government plans to prevent a number of its most prominent critics from leaving the country.

"This latest assault on basic democratic rights underlines that this government really has no shame whatsoever."

Zimbabwe's deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga claimed he didn't know about the existence of the list, thought to carry between 62 and 64 names of President Robert Mugabe's critics whose travel is to be curtailed.

The list has been distributed to all exit points in Zimbabwe, and immigration officers have the power to withdraw passports from listed individuals entering or leaving the country.

Matonga said: "I am not aware of the list your refer to. In the case of Trevor Ncube, why are you not asking the Australians why they have banned him from their country?"

Ncube was erroneously listed among 120 supporters of President Mugabe who face travel and economic sanctions in Australia. The Australian government has apologised and promised to review the list.

Among some of Mugabe's critics whose names are on an initial list of 15 seen by New Zimbabwe.com are journalists Geoff Nyarota (Norway), Basildon Peta (South Africa), Caroline Gombakomba (United States), human rights activist Brian Kagoro (Kenya), NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku and Noble Sibanda, a campaigner for asylum seekers in the UK.
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