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HARARE - Dissent is growing within President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party over Draconian media laws designed to muzzle the press and suppress information ahead of the presidential election in March.

In the first sign of cracks in Mugabe's own party as the presidential election approaches, the government failed again yesterday for the second time in a week to introduce in parliament the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill in the face of mounting resistance in cabinet and parliament.

The bill, along with several other pieces of repressive legislation, has been severely criticised internationally since it was first publicised.

An amended bill, which eases proposed curbs to press freedom ever so slightly, was released yesterday.

In the short term, yesterday's delay hinders efforts by Jonathan Moyo, Mugabe's information minister and staunch ally, to gag the media.

But in the medium term the delay, caused by opposition from Zanu PF MPs to the media laws, shows Mugabe's grip is loosening and that he faces a tough campaign for re-election.

Moyo is an unelected MP appointed by Mugabe.

Leader of the House Patrick Chinamasa was forced to delay debate on the bill for the second time yesterday because of heightening opposition within Zanu PF - an unheard of occurrence in Zimbabwean politics - to the legislation that even party members described as Draconian and "fundamentally flawed".

In a key setback to Mugabe's efforts to suppress challenges to his rule ahead of the election, official sources said the bill was held back after a Zanu (PF) caucus meeting yesterday morning at which MPs refused to be whipped into line by Moyo.

The move to frustrate Moyo's legislative efforts is seen as a rare act of defiance against Mugabe.

The caucus refusal to endorse the law shows the extent of the dissent within Zanu PF over Mugabe's rule.

This first emerged with opposition to the Labour Relations Amendment Bill, which sought to outlaw strikes, by parliament's legal affairs committee, chaired by Eddison Zvobgo, Mugabe's fiercest rival.

But this week, in a confidential document, the parliamentary communications committee also came out against the media bill.

Though chaired by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the committee is dominated, like all others, by Zanu PF MPs.

It not clear when the amended bill will be introduced.

Sources said it contained 39 amendments.

Zvobgo's legal affairs committee will examine it before another attempt is made to squeeze it through the House.

Zvobgo is said to have indicated it would be futile for government to push the bill through in its current form because ruling party legislators would not support it.

Sources said there were internal dynamics in Zanu PF causing the ruction.

Sources said another problem was the bad blood between Zvobgo, and allies Moyo and Mugabe.

The rivalry got worse two years ago during the abortive government-sponsored Constitutional Commission of Inquiry.

Moyo clashed with Zvobgo over the reform exercise and their relations have since been strained.

Moyo is Mugabe's adherent while Zvobgo has literally become the president's enemy. - Business Day (SA)

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