Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – On 24 August 1999, the “Herald” newspaper reported that a new law aimed at controlling the dissemination of undesirable material through the Internet, mostly pornography and unsolicited junk mail, might soon be enforced if a proposed draft amendment is made law. The proposed law has been compiled by the Law Development Commission at […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 19 August 1999 letter to the president of the Republic, Robert Mugabe, RSF deeply regrets his decision to veto the issuing of a law which represents a step forward for press freedom. RSF urged him “to go back on (his) decision and to permit (his) country to adopt a law which […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has reportedly refused to sign the new Public Order and Security Bill (POSB) into law, apparently because it does not contain tough measures against the media. The bill has subsequently been referred back to parliament for amendment. A report carried in the “Financial Gazette” newspaper said that Mugabe had […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe has postponed the enactment of broadcasting legislation which was meant to pave the way for the opening up of the airwaves in that country. Speaking at a 6 July 1999 workshop on “Media Freedom, Responsibility and Ethics” organised by the British Council, Permanent Secretary of Information Willard Chiwewe said […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka, and chief writer Ray Choto, have lodged an application with the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Law and Order Maintenance Act (Loma) under which the two are being charged for allegedly causing “alarm and despondency.” **Updates IFEX alerts of 31 May, 11 May, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – A Parliamentary Select Committee, probing allegations of insider trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and in the shares of Zimbabwe Holdings Limited (Finhold), has demanded that journalists who had written reports of its preliminary findings be forced to reveal their sources. On 9 June 1999, the committee refused to finalise its work until […]

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is deeply concerned by an announcement Minister of Information Chen Chimutengwende made in Parliament on 19 May indicating his intention to draw up legislation establishing a code of conduct for all journalists and imposing unspecified sanctions on any who defy it. The minister allegedly reported to the Parliament that his officials were […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, whose medical reports confirmed that they had been tortured while in military detention earlier this year, have formally laid civil and criminal charges against the police and military. **Updates IFEX alerts of 11 May, 15 March, 24 February, 12 February, 11 February, 10 February, 9 February, 3 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The bail conditions of the “Standard” journalists, Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, were eased on 10 May 1999 in their first appearance in court since their return from the U.K. for post-torture treatment. ** Updates IFEX alerts of 15 March, 24 February, 12 February, 11 February, 10 February, 9 February, 3 February, 29 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Charges of publishing “false information likely to cause fear, alarm or despondency” against the group publisher of the “Zimbabwe Mirror”, Ibbo Mandaza, and journalist Grace Kwinjeh, were dropped on 30 April 1999. Mandaza and Kwinjeh appeared in the Harare Magistrate’s Court for a review of their bail conditions when they were informed that […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 April 1999, President Robert Mugabe said he was going to broaden state powers against the country’s press, reports the “Namibian” newspaper. **Updates IFEX alerts of 26 April, 25 March and 10 February 1999** In an interview with the state-owned “Sunday Mail”, Mugabe said that current laws gave journalists a higher status […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed its concern about the intention of the Zimbabwean government to reinforce defamation laws. RSF notes that the Zimbabwean Constitution already permits legal action for damages in case of defamation. Section 20(1)(b)(i) includes, “protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The “Herald” newspaper reported on 18 March 1999 that the government had begun research aimed at introducing a media policy and law which would “facilitate” the operations of various media organisations in the country. The announcement was made by the Senior Secretary for Information, Posts and Telecommunications, Willard Chiwewe. Chiwewe said that the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 12 March 1999, the Zimbabwean High Court cleared Defence Minister Moven Mahachi of contempt of court charges following an application in this regard brought by the “Standard” newspaper. However, the court found that his secretary, Job Whabira, was guilty of ignoring the court and subsequently ordered the ministry to pay the legal […]

(MISA/IFEX) – A magistrates court in Zimbabwe has granted an application to alter the bail conditions of two tortured “Standard” newspaper journalists, Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, allowing them to leave Zimbabwe for medical treatment in the United Kingdom. **Updates IFEX alerts of 12 February, 11 February, 10 February, 9 February, 3 February, 29 January, […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 11 February, 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 29 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January and 13 January 1999** (IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ press release: Media Release 12 February 1999 IFJ Condemns Zimbabwe for Arrests and Torture The IFJ today condemned the Zimbabwe authorities for arresting and, […]