New anti-corruption regulations "unconstitutional"

New anti-corruption regulations allowing Zimbabwean police to hold suspects accused of economic crimes for up to four weeks without bail are "unconstitutional", a human rights body said on Monday. Presidential Powers were used on Friday to amend the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which now enables the police to detain people suspected of committing economic crimes, including corruption, money laundering and illegal dealing in foreign exchange and gold, for up to a week. The police can also hold suspects for a further 21 days if prima facie evidence of their involvement is produced. Noel Kututwa, deputy director of the Zimbabwe-based Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa, pointed out that the amendments contravened the constitutional right of citizens to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. "The regulations, by denying bail for seven days, also contravene the individual's right to a fair hearing, as prescribed in the constitution," he told IRIN. Kututwa said he "failed to understand the need for invoking presidential powers when the parliament is in session - an issue involving civil liberties should be debated in parliament". The regulations were introduced as part of President Robert Mugabe's attempts to clamp down on corruption, following the arrest of a senior ZANU-PF central committee member, James Makamba, a week ago. The official Herald newspaper said on Monday that figures previously released by the police showed Makamba had allegedly transferred several million Zimbabwean dollars as well as foreign currency abroad. Telecel, the country's third-largest mobile phone company, of which Makamba is a director, also allegedly "externalised" foreign currency and Zimbawean dollars. Mugabe last week also created a new Ministry of Anti-corruption and an Anti-monopolies Programme, with ZANU-PF stalwart Didymus Mutasa as the head.