**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** (ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: London, 8 February 1999 – for immediate release Zimbabwe media faces big chill as three more journalists arrested ARTICLE 19 […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January,
22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999**
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
London, 8 February 1999 – for immediate release
Zimbabwe media faces big chill as three more journalists arrested
ARTICLE 19 today called upon the Zimbabwean authorities to ensure
compliance with human rights law following the arrest this morning of
another three journalists in Harare. The organisation expressed concern
for Ferayi Mungazi, Grace Kwinjeh and Fernando Goncalves of the Mirror
newspaper, who were picked up for questioning at 10am Zimbabwe time, and
called upon the government to ensure that they are not tortured.
The CID did not tell them what the charges were, but it appears that
they are being held in connection with a story which was printed on 30
October 1998, relating to Zimbabwe’s role in the war in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Over the weekend, President Mugabe finally broke his silence over the
issue of the two journalists who were tortured last month after police
handed them over to the military. Unprecedented criticism by Zimbabwe’s
judiciary has now been met by threats and accusations.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, said:
“ARTICLE 19 strongly protests the trend of attacks on the media and
judiciary – crude attempts by the government to censor information,
intimidate critics and deflect attention from the true cost of
Zimbabwe’s involvement in the DRC conflict.
“The government must be left in no doubt that such behaviour will not be
tolerated by the international community,” he added.
ARTICLE 19 is to support a direct appeal to the Zimbabwean Supreme Court
on behalf of the two Sunday Standard journalists who were arrested and
tortured last month. They now face charges of disseminating false news.
Lawyers for Mark Chavunduka and Roy Choto will challenge the statute
under which the journalists have been charged – ‘publication of false
news likely to cause fear, alarm or despondency among the general
public’ – on the grounds that
it is contrary to the guarantee of freedom of expression set out in the
Zimbabwean Constitution. ARTICLE 19 will provide information on
international and comparative law to support this challenge.