Journalists acquitted on false news charges; public broadcaster freed from paying legal costs
**Updates IFEX alerts on Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto of 3 April, 31, 23 and 15 March, 1 February, 28 and 7 January 2000, 4 October, 30 and 10 September, 19 July, 31 and 22 May, 25 March, 24, 12, 11, 10, 9 and 3 February, 29, 27, 25, 22, 21, 18, 15 and 13 […]
Another legal challenge to broadcasting law
(MISA/IFEX) – Two local businessmen have filed an application in the Zimbabwe Supreme Court challenging the country’s Broadcasting Act, which gives the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) a monopoly. Media consultant Michael Auret Jnr and broadcaster Gerry Jackson, who plan to invest US$45 million in an independent broadcasting station, are challenging Section 27 of the Broadcasting […]
Journalist cleared of all charges, allowed to leave country
(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 May 2000, Associated Press photographer Obed Zilwa was cleared of all charges and allowed to leave Zimbabwe. Zilwa was released from detention on Saturday 29 April after spending just over forty-eight hours in jail. He was released into the custody of his lawyer, and had his passport and plane ticket confiscated. […]
Government tells state-owned media editors to conform
(MISA/IFEX) – State-owned media editors have been told to comply fully with official views in the run-up to the general elections, the “Zimbabwe Independent” reported in its 28 April 2000 edition. Information Minister Chenhamo Chimutengwende reportedly told the state editors at his Linquenda House offices that they had an obligation to support and amplify government […]
Journalist charged in connection with bombing, bomb scare at newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – On 28 April 2000, the Zimbabwe police charged South African journalist Obert Siyabuliza Zilwa under Section 38 (b) (ii) of the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA). Zilwa’s lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, told MISA-Zimbabwe that they were preparing for an initial remand hearing at the Rotten Row Magistrate’s Court, but that he was prepared […]
CPJ condemns campaign of harassment against “The Daily News”
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 April 2000 CPJ letter to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe condemning the harassment campaign against “The Daily News”: April 27, 2000 President Robert Mugabe Office of the President Munhumutapa Building Samora Machel Avenue/ 3rd Street Harare, Zimbabwe VIA FAX: 011-263-4-708-820 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the […]
CPJ condemns arrest of Associated Press photographer
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 April 2000 CPJ news alert: ZIMBABWE: AP PHOTOGRAPHER ARRESTED New York, April 27, 2000 — On April 26, Harare airport police arrested Obed Zilwa, an Associated Press photographer, on suspicion that he may have been involved in an April 22 bomb attack on the offices of the independent […]
Seized materials returned to journalists
(MISA/IFEX) – It was earlier reported that two journalists from the “The Daily News”, Nyasha Nyakunu and Tsvangirai Mukwazhi, who were detained by youths at a farm on 7 April 2000, had had their two cameras, national identity cards and government-issued press cards confiscated. “The Daily News” has since confirmed that these items have all […]
Journalist arrested in connection with investigation into bomb blast
(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 April 2000, Zimbabwe police arrested South African journalist Obert Siyabuliza Zilwa on suspicion of being involved in the recent bomb blast at Trustee House, which houses the offices of “The Daily News”. Zilwa, a photographer for the Associated Press (AP), was arrested at Harare International Airport as he was about to […]
Journalist assaulted
(MISA/IFEX) – Journalist Savias Parker Kwinika, who writes for several state-owned newspapers, was allegedly assaulted by member youths of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at a roadblock they were manning at a funeral for a fellow activist killed in a petrol bomb attack, the state-owned “Herald” newspaper reported. Kwinika, who is a stringer for […]
Writer of death threat directed at editor surfaces
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 April 2000, the writer of two letters containing death threats, one of which was directed at the editor-in-chief of the “Daily News”, Geoff Nyarota, presented himself to the newspaper’s reception desk. The writer, Ngonidzashe Mutasa, surfaced at the reception and asked to see the editor but staff quickly called in the […]
RSF expresses concern following bomb explosion in front of daily newspaper’s office
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 25 April 2000 letter to Minister of Home Affairs Dumiso Dabengwa, RSF expressed its concern after a bomb explosion in front of the office of a daily newspaper in Harare. RSF urged the minister to launch an inquiry into this explosion and to find those responsible. “We call on your authority […]
Bomb explodes at newspaper offices
(MISA/IFEX) – On 22 April 2000, a home-made bomb exploded on the ground floor of Trustee House, a ten-storey building which houses the offices of the “Daily News”. The bomb went off at around 9:15 p.m. (local time) in an art gallery situated directly below the office of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Geoff Nyarota. No one […]
Several journalists threatened
(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 April 2000 letter to Minister of Home Affairs Dumiso Dabengwa, RSF expressed concern about the deterioration of press freedom in Zimbabwe on the twentieth anniversary of the country’s independence. RSF urged the minister to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely in Zimbabwe. “We wish to remind you that […]
State media failed voters, says monitoring project
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: ZIMBABWE STATE MEDIA FAILED VOTERS, SAYS MONITORING PROJECT Today, as pro-government forces increasingly target political opponents and independent and foreign media workers, the Zimbabwe Media Monitoring Project (1) published a report sharply criticising the bias and inaccuracy of the state media during the recent […]
Journalists detained by ruling party youths
(MISA/IFEX) – A “Daily News” crew, comprising features editor Nyasha Nyakunu, photographer Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and their driver, Shadreck Muchecheni, were detained for two hours by Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) youths outside Harare on 7 April 2000. The youths, armed with iron bars, knobkerries and golf clubs, threatened to kill the “Daily News” crew […]