PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY ACT [CHAPTER 11:17] (3) Any person who is aggrieved by a prohibition issued under subsection (1) may appeal against it to the Minister, and the Minister may confirm, vary or set aside the prohibition or give such order or direction in the matter as he thinks just. (4) Any person who fails to comply with a prohibition made under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five7 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. (5) A police officer may, without warrant, seize any weapon or item capable of use as weapon found in the possession of any person in contravention of subsection (1), and shall place in safe custody every weapon or item so seized so that it may be submitted to the jurisdiction of the court to be dealt with in accordance with section thirty-nine. 15 Publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State (1) Any person who, whether inside or outside Zimbabwe, publishes or communicates to any other person a statement which is wholly or materially false with the intention or realising that there is a risk or possibility of— (a) inciting or promoting public disorder or public violence or endangering public safety; or (b) adversely affecting the defence or economic interests of Zimbabwe; or (c) undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency, the Prison Service or the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe; or (d) interfering with, disrupting or interrupting any essential service; shall, whether or not the publication or communication results in a consequence referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten8 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment. (2) Any person who, whether inside or outside Zimbabwe and whether with or without the intention or realisation referred to in subsection (1), publishes or communicates to any other person a statement which is wholly or materially false and which— (a) he knows to be false; or (b) he does not have reasonable grounds for believing to be true; shall, if the publication or communication of the statement— (i) promotes or incites public disorder or public violence or endangers public safety; or (ii) adversely affects the defence or economic interests of Zimbabwe; or 7 Before 3rd February, 2006, this was $10 000 dollars. 8 Before 3rd February, 2006, this was $100 000 dollars. - 12 -