(MISA/IFEX) – “Zimbabwe Mirror” editor-in-chief Ibbo Mandaza has obtained a High Court provisional which bars “The Daily News” from further publishing material relating to his private property, according to reports in “The Herald” and “The Zimbabwe Mirror”. The newspapers reported that Justice Hungwe handed down the order on Thursday 19 July 2001, after an urgent […]
(MISA/IFEX) – “Zimbabwe Mirror” editor-in-chief Ibbo Mandaza has obtained a High Court provisional which bars “The Daily News” from further publishing material relating to his private property, according to reports in “The Herald” and “The Zimbabwe Mirror”.
The newspapers reported that Justice Hungwe handed down the order on Thursday 19 July 2001, after an urgent chamber application by Mandaza’s lawyer James Tomana. Tomana argued that any further publication about Mandaza’s material property was an infringement of his constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy. “If a private individual is not being investigated for fraud or any other allegation, there is no reason why his personal life should be exposed to the public,” said Tomana.
Tomana also argued that the article about Mandaza implied that he had acquired the money to buy his properties through dishonourable contacts using donors who fund the Southern Africa Regional Institute of Policy Studies (SARIPS). Mandaza is the executive director of SARIPS. The lawyer also said the story was defamatory and he would institute proceedings to that effect in the future. “The Daily News” was given ten days to respond to the order.
Commenting on the matter, State Minister for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo said that “The Daily News” should be brought to book for acts that do not respect the law. “They behave as if they have an entitlement to violently intrude into other people’s privacy with impunity. This should send a clear message not only to them but to others,” said Moyo.
“People in Zimbabwe are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law and yet this paper has been pointing fingers and going to extremes. This is shameful, disgusting and should never ever be allowed,” added Moyo.
BACKGROUND:
On Friday 6 July, “The Daily News” printed a front-page pictorial story in which properties belonging to Mandaza were shown.
The paper went on to say that Mandaza had refused to comment on how he acquired such upper market properties.
Moyo was to later attack “The Daily News” for infringing on Mandaza’s privacy and warned that such actions would not be tolerated in the future.
“The Daily News” editor-in-chief Geoff Nyarota argued that the paper was coming up with more information on how Mandaza might have dishonestly acquired his properties.
