Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 22 July 2008 MISA press release: MISA-Zimbabwe Statement on SADC/AU mediated signing of MOU between political parties in Zimbabwe MISA Zimbabwe cautiously welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ZANU-PF and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as the three main political […]

(MISA/IFEX) – A South African company, Globecast Satellite, which saw two of its employees acquitted of practicing journalism without accreditation in April 2008 by a Harare magistrate, is now being charged with illegal importation of broadcasting equipment in violation of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). At the commencement of the trial on 15 July 2008, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Freelance journalist Frank Chikowore and the 13 alleged Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters, charged with inciting public violence and burning a bus, were on 14 July 2008 removed from remand. The presiding Magistrate, Margaret Rusinahama granted the application for removal of remand made by the defence lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, on the condition […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Three South African nationals employed by Sky News – Bernet Hasani Sono, Resemate Chauke and Simon Musimani – who were serving a six-month jail term have since been released after a High Court judge reviewed the sentence and commuted it to a fine. The three were convicted on their own plea to contravening […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Police in Plumtree have dropped a case against Kholwani Nyathi, a Bulawayo-based correspondent with “The Standard” privately-owned weekly, whom they wanted to question over an unpublished story he had investigated during a visit to the south-western border town. Nyathi was ordered to present himself at the police station by Assistant Inspector Sifelani, Plumtree […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 2 July 2008 WAN letter to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe: His Excellency Robert Mugabe President of Zimbabwe Harare, Zimbabwe 2 July 2008 Your Excellency, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to call […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 July 2008, the trial of two Kwekwe-based journalists accused of publishing falsehoods in breach of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) was postponed to 15 July. The postponement took place after the trial judge dismissed the defence’s application to stop proceedings pending an appeal of the judge’s […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrest of seven Zimbabwean and foreign journalists during the run-off presidential election that was a foregone conclusion on 27 June 2008. “In its negotiations with Robert Mugabe, the African Union should remind the outgoing head of state that journalism is not a crime,” the worldwide press freedom […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Freelance journalists Frank Chikowore and Edgar Mwandiambira were arrested the morning of 27 June 2008 while covering election proceedings at Mhofu Primary school in the Harare suburb of Highfield at the opening of the presidential election run-off voting. According to their lawyer, Aleck Muchadehama, the two are being held at Machipisa police station […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is an abridged report by AFMF, IFJ, MISA and other organisations: Against the odds: Covering Zimbabwe in a climate of fear and physical danger Report of a Mission to Zimbabwe, 9 – 13 June 2008 1. Background A mission to examine close at hand the media in Zimbabwe was undertaken from […]

Bad to Worse in Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwean police have charged a street vendor for listening to a news programme on the Zimbabwe broadcast of the Voice of America, reports Zimonline news agency. Noel Tichawana was arrested in early June 2008 and will appear in court on 15 July to answer to charges of “committing criminal nuisance” after he was […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) strongly protests attacks against the cast and crew of the satirical play “The Crocodile of Zambezi” and its banning by police in Bulawayo in May 2008. According to the WiPC’s sources, production manager Lionel Nkosi was tortured and threatened with death, and actor Aleck […]

All Over Again: Human Rights Abuses and Flawed Electoral Conditions in Zimbabwe’s Coming General Elections

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a MISA press release: Zimbabwe: Statement on media coverage of the Presidential Election Runoff MISA-Zimbabwe notes with great concern the skewed coverage of the campaign period preceding the high stakes presidential election run-off slated for 27 June 2008 more so by the state media and in particular the national broadcaster, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The joint trial of independent newspaper, “The Standard”, its editor Davison Maruziva, and Professor Arthur Mutambara, leader of a faction of opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been postponed to 10 July 2008. “The Standard” newspaper, Maruziva and Mutambara stand charged under Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and […]