(CPJ/IFEX) – “Sunday Standard” journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto appeared in court in Harare on 4 October 1999 for further remand and review of their bail conditions. The hearing lasted only a few minutes: a further remand hearing was set for 4 January 2000. The two journalists were charged under the Law and Order […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – “Sunday Standard” journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto
appeared in court in Harare on 4 October 1999 for further remand and review
of their bail conditions. The hearing lasted only a few minutes: a further
remand hearing was set for 4 January 2000. The two journalists were charged
under the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA) of 1960 after their newspaper
reported an army plot to remove President Robert Mugabe from power because
of alleged economic mismanagement, and because of Zimbabwe’s military
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both journalists
were severely tortured by government agents.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 4 October, 30 and 10 September, 19 July, 31 and 11
May, 15 March, 24, 12, 11, 10, 9 and 3 February, 29, 27, 25, 22, 21, 18, 15
and 13 January 1999**
Chavunduka and Choto were charged with publishing false information “likely
to cause fear and despondency,” under S.50(2) of LOMA. They subsequently
challenged the validity of this section on the grounds that it was too vague
and that the draconian nature of the legislation made a free trial
impossible. The trial is currently on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling on
their challenge.
CPJ continues to demand that the Mugabe government drop all charges against
the two journalists.
