(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply disturbed by the spiralling deterioration of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe. The most recent manifestation of the onslaught on the independent media in the country is the detention of six “Daily News” journalists in two separate incidents. Geoffrey Nyarota, the newspaper’s editor, was arrested at just […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply disturbed by the spiralling deterioration of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe.
The most recent manifestation of the onslaught on the independent media in the country is the detention of six “Daily News” journalists in two separate incidents. Geoffrey Nyarota, the newspaper’s editor, was arrested at just after midnight (local time) on 15 August 2001. He was charged with “publishing false information likely to cause alarm or despondency in the public” under Section 50 (2) of the catch-all 1960 Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA). Later the same day, police detained “Daily News” assistant editor Bill Saidi and reporters John Gambanga and Sam Munyavi. The arrests were made as a result of an article written by Munyavi which appeared in the 14 August edition of the newspaper. The report claimed that police vehicles had been used in the looting of white farms in the town of Mhangura.
When a lawyer acting on behalf of Nyarota pointed out that Section 50 of LOMA had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2000, the police changed the charge to that of “criminal defamation”. All four journalists were released the same day but only after Nyarota had endured a lengthy interrogation.
Nyarota currently has three other court cases pending against him, all connected to articles reporting on alleged wrong-doings by President Robert Mugabe or Minister for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo.
On 14 August, police arrested Lawrence Chikuwira and Mduduzi Mathuthu from the “Daily News”‘ Bulawayo office in connection with an article that alleged that people had walked out on Vice-President Joseph Msika at a “Heroes Day” gathering when he had called upon them to sing pro-government slogans. The two were released the same day.
The arrests bring to seventeen the number of detentions of journalists from various Zimbabwean newspapers this year. Furthermore, two journalists have reported being attacked by alleged government supporters whilst two others have received death threats. A number of foreign correspondents have had their visas annulled and been summarily deported.
On 28 January, a bomb attack destroyed the “Daily News” printing press (see IFEX alerts of 22, 16, 13, 6, 5 and 1 February, 31, 30, 29, 25 and 23 January 2001). The use of anti-tank landmines in the attack strongly suggests army involvement or collusion. The bombing came a day after government minister Moyo had told a Zimbabwean television station that the state would “silence” the “Daily News”. No-one has been arrested in connection with the bombing.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– condemning the repression of journalists in Zimbabwe
– calls upon the Zimbabwean authorities to cease the arbitrary detention of journalists for the writing of articles deemed unfavourable to the government
– urging that the right to freedom of expression in the country be safeguarded and that spurious charges of “defamation” against journalists be dropped
– requesting that the Freedom of Information Act due to be tabled in parliament this month allow for the free flow of information in Zimbabwean society, and that it might coincide with the repealing of repressive colonial-era laws such as the Officials Secrets Act and the Law and Order Maintenance Act
Appeals To
His Honourable Cde Robert Mugabe
Executive President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Office of the President
Private Bag 7700
Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 708820/790316/734644/708557Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative of Zimbabwe in your country.
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
