(MISA/IFEX) – Mercedes Sayagues, the foreign correspondent of the South African “Mail & Guardian” who was deported from Zimbabwe on 18 February 2001, has filed a legal challenge with the High Court of Zimbabwe, arguing that her deportation by the Zimbabwean government was illegal, “The Daily News” reported on 17 July. The newspaper reports that […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Mercedes Sayagues, the foreign correspondent of the South African “Mail & Guardian” who was deported from Zimbabwe on 18 February 2001, has filed a legal challenge with the High Court of Zimbabwe, arguing that her deportation by the Zimbabwean government was illegal, “The Daily News” reported on 17 July.
The newspaper reports that Sayagues’s lawyer, Tendai Biti of Honey and Blanckenberg, filed the papers on her behalf, citing State Minister for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo as the first respondent. Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo and Chief Immigration Officer Elasto Mugwadi are the other respondents.
Sayagues, who was thrown out of the country by the government after it refused to renew her work permit, is maintaining that she was not granted the right to be heard as demanded by the principles of natural justice.
Zimbabwean government officials said that she was expelled because she was working for Angola’s rebel movement, Union For The Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), “As a matter of fact, both the Ministry of Information, the president of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Justice has said that I was expelled because I am a spy working for Jonas Savimbi’s Unita rebel movement. This is atrocious, malicious and an outright lie,” Sayagues said in her affidavit.
“The Daily News” also reports that in his answering affidavit, Moyo denied that Sayagues was never given the opportunity to renew her work permit but that the ministry had frozen issuing work permits or extensions pending new accreditation rules yet to be effected. Whereas the home affairs minister said he had the power to declare persons prohibited immigrants in terms of the Immigration Act, without disclosing any reasons.
Background Information
On Saturday 17 February, the Zimbabwean government ordered Sayagues to leave Zimbabwe.
The previous week, Zimbabwe assured South Africa that the journalist was ordered to leave because she did not have a valid work permit. According to government officials, Sayagues’s work permit had expired.
On 14 June, the Zimbabwe government imposed entry conditions on foreign journalists, requiring them to apply for official press accreditation at least one month before an intended visit.
The statement, issued by the Zimbabwe Department of Information and Publicity (Office of the President and Cabinet), reads as follows:
“In keeping with international practice, the Department of Information and Publicity in the Office of the President and Cabinet, reminds foreign media personnel who intend to visit Zimbabwe on media assignments that they are expected, and indeed required to apply for accreditation from their countries of permanent station.
Accordingly and with immediate effect, applications for accreditation, which must be supported by the employing media institution, must be lodged with the Department either directly or through the nearest Zimbabwean Mission, at least a month before the
proposed visit.
Travel arrangements should only start after a clear indication from the Department on accreditation status of applicants.
The department will henceforth not entertain applications by individuals who are already in the country. Equally, it will not support such crews for immigration purposes.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Department of Information and Publicity:
– protesting its imposition of new accreditation restrictions
Appeals To
Department of Information and Publicity
Tel: +263 4 703 891 / 707 091/7
Fax: +263 4 708 557
E-mail: zimonline@gta.gov.zwPlease copy appeals to the source if possible.
