In a late evening news bulletin, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation said the new ban - again to be imposed by Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama - would run for a month from Friday.

A previous two-week ban imposed on September 2 was erroneously believed to have been lifted last Wednesday, but this was not the case. While High Court Judge, Priscilla Chigumba, declared the ban unconstitutional and invalid, she said her ruling would not take effect for another seven days, effectively giving the state time to plan its next move.

State ZBC radio said: "The temporary prohibition is for a period not exceeding one month from the 16th of this month to the 15th of October 2016. All stakeholders are accordingly advised."

News of the fresh ban has already angered opponents of President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, where discontent has been steadily rising since Harare pastor Evan Mawarire launched his #ThisFlag protest movement on Facebook in April. He was arrested and has since been forced into exile. But opposition parties and activists are stepping into the breach, organising marches and flash street demonstrations.

Tweeted Tendai Biti, the former finance minister on Monday night: "This regime does not quite understand the new constitution."

In a separate tweet, he added: "This is the CIO (secret police) and Zanu-PF in full throttle taking instructions from Mugabe himself."

News24.com