(MISA/IFEX) – Three journalists from the Voice of the People radio station were denied accreditation to cover the 9 and 10 March 2002 presidential elections. The three journalists are Ish Mafundikwa, Jestina Mukoko and Shorai Makoni. MISA-Zimbabwe was told by Mafundikwa that when they went to the Election Supervisory Commission (ESC) seeking accreditation on 2 […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Three journalists from the Voice of the People radio station were denied accreditation to cover the 9 and 10 March 2002 presidential elections. The three journalists are Ish Mafundikwa, Jestina Mukoko and Shorai Makoni.
MISA-Zimbabwe was told by Mafundikwa that when they went to the Election Supervisory Commission (ESC) seeking accreditation on 2 March, an ESC officer identified only as Pasi informed them that he had to check with the Department of Information and Publicity as to whether the three journalists could be accredited. 2 March was the last day that local journalists could apply for accreditation to cover the presidential elections.
Mafundikwa told MISA-Zimbabwe that Pasi had promised to inform them of their accreditation status that evening. Upon being called in the evening, Pasi told Mafundikwa that the three journalists had been denied accreditation. No reasons were given to explain the rejection of their applications.
Background Information
The Zimbabwean government has been regularly harassing Voice of the People and SW Radio Africa. The two are short wave radio stations broadcasting on issues in Zimbabwe.
The government accuses Britain and the Netherlands of supporting and “harbouring” the two stations. However, the three journalists who were denied accreditation are Zimbabwean journalists who are accredited with the Department of Information and Publicity through the old Ministry of Information, Post and Telecommunications.
Journalists were required to obtain special accreditation with the ESC to gain access to polling stations during the election period.
