(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 November 1997, two South African television journalists were expelled from Zambia because they were allegedly a “threat to national security”, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA). Reggie Marobe and Abraham du Preez of Phenyo Film and Television Production were ordered to leave Zambia within 24 hours by Zambia’s Ministry of […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 November 1997, two South African television
journalists were expelled from Zambia because they were allegedly
a “threat to national security”, reports the Zambia Independent
Media Association (ZIMA). Reggie Marobe and Abraham du Preez of
Phenyo Film and Television Production were ordered to leave
Zambia within 24 hours by Zambia’s Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting Services.
Prior to their arrival in Lusaka, the journalists had been
granted permission to film for the South African Broadcasting
Corporation (SABC) a documentary entitled “Our Heroes,” due for
broadcast on 16 December. The documentary is about the ruling
African National Congress’s (ANC) liberation activities in Zambia
before the end of apartheid. The ANC’s headquarters were in
Lusaka at the time of the liberation struggle.
However, when the journalists went to collect their press passes
from the Zambia Information Services, they were told that their
accreditation had been revoked. They were then led to a meeting
with information permanent secretary Laurah Harrison, where they
were reportedly told that their presence in Zambia was
“undesirable” due to the prevailing state of emergency.
The Third Secretary in the South African High Commission, Peter
Pretorius, confirmed the expulsion of the journalists in an
interview with ZIMA on 2 December. “The official version given to
us is that the two journalists could not continue with their
assignment because of the state of emergency in the country after
the October 28 failed coup attempt”, said Pretorius.
Deputy information minister Ernest Mwansa denied knowledge of the
report on 5 December. Mwanza said he did not know anything about
the cancellation of the accreditation, claiming the story was
false. “I refuse to comment on a story which is not true,” he
told ZIMA. The expelled journalists, however, said they felt
“surprised and disturbed” that their presence was seen as a
threat to national security when their documentary had nothing to
do with Zambian politics.
All foreign journalists coming to work in Zambia require valid
“Press Passes” to carry out their functions.
