3 June 2002

Alert

Two journalists to stand trial for writing "falsehoods"


Incident details

Andrew Meldrum, Lloyd Mudiwa

journalist(s)



(MISA/IFEX) - On Thursday 30 May 2002, a magistrate's court ruled that Lloyd Mudiwa, a reporter from the private daily newspaper "The Daily News", and Andrew Meldrum, a foreign correspondent for the British newspaper "The Guardian", must be tried on allegations of having written "falsehoods". Both journalists are being charged under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.




Harare Magistrate Joyce Negonde said Meldrum, a permanent resident of Zimbabwe, would stand trial on 12 June. Mudiwa's trial date is set for 20 June.

The case against Meldrum and Mudiwa originated from a story run in "The Daily News" and "The Guardian" about allegations that vigilante supporters of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party had beheaded a woman. "The Daily News" later apologised to the ruling party after the story proved to be false.

Neither journalist spoke after the 30 May hearing. Their lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said, "We are happy the state has finally set a date and we hope we can prove our case that the state is being vindictive with these prosecutions."

Background Information


Journalists Mudiwa, Meldrum and Collin Chiwanza were arrested following the publication of an article on 23 April in which "The Daily News" alleged that two young girls had witnessed the beheading of their mother by alleged ZANU-PF supporters in the rural area of Magunje.

On 7 May, a magistrate court in Harare ruled that Mudiwa and Meldrum would have to stand trial. The two journalists were remanded out of custody until 22 May.

In a front-page story on 27 April, "The Daily News" apologised to the ruling party and to the government after it was revealed that the husband of the victim had misled the newspaper.





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More on this case

Legal action against journalist suspended 25 March 2003 Supreme Court expected to hear appeal in case against former editor 6 March 2003 Warrant issued for the arrest of journalist Geoffrey Nyarota 4 March 2003 CPJ releases first-person account of journalist's imprisonment 28 August 2002 Deportation order for U.S. journalist suspended 18 July 2002 Correspondent from "The Guardian" found not guilty of publishing falsehoods but served deportation order 15 July 2002 Thirteen journalists charged under repressive laws 3 July 2002 State trial of journalist Andrew Meldrum "likely to hit brick wall," says MISA 19 June 2002 Journalist from "The Guardian" goes on trial 13 June 2002 "Daily News" editor-in-chief arrested in connection with ongoing case 22 May 2002 Charges dropped against journalist; another journalist arrested 8 May 2002 Journalists released, appear in court 7 May 2002 Three independent reporters arrested 2 May 2002

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