Zimbabwe

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ is disturbed by recent arrests of journalists in Zimbabwe. According to the IFJ’s information, Mark Chavunduka, editor of the “Standard” newspaper, was detained by the Zimbabwean military on 12 January 1999, two days after the “Standard” published a story alleging that soldiers had been detained for attempting to overthrow the government […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – NDIMA is disturbed by reports of torture and inhuman treatment meted out to two Zimbabwean journalists working for the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, after a lengthy and illegal detention by security forces. Regardless of whether the story about the discontent in the army was true or not, the journalists were […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The managing-editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Clive Wilson, was arrested on 22 January 1999 by members of the police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). **New case and update to IFEX alerts of 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** Iden Wetherall, deputy editor of the “Zimbabwe Independent”, the sister […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwean journalists Mark Chavunduka and Roy Choto, who were released from prison on 21 January 1999 on bail of Zim$10,000 (approx. US$255), have been sent for a full medical check-up amid the disclosure of their torture at the hands of the military. **Updates IFEX alerts of 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern after the beating of four journalists in the town of Masvingo (south of the country). According to RSF’s information, on 20 January 1999, a secret service officer stormed the offices of the weekly “Tribune” and the “Zimbabwe Mirror” and those of the state’s Zimbabwe Information Services. The man beat […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka, along with journalist Ray Choto have been released on bail. The two were released on 21 January 1999 shortly after appearing in the High Court in Harare on charges under Section 50 (2) of the Law and Order Maintenance Act of 1960. At this stage […]

(MISA/IFEX) – MISA Zimbabwe is shocked both at the government’s continued defiance of the High Court orders to release the editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka, as well as the way the government has now used the judiciary process to trick Chavunduka’s colleague, Ray Choto, into handing himself over to the police. According to […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 21 January 1999, detained journalists Mark Chavunduka and Roy Choto appeared in the Harare High Court for the first time since their arrest. Chavunduka, the editor of the “Standard” newspaper, was arrested by the military on 12 January following the publication of a story reporting on an alleged coup plot against the […]

HASH(0x86b98d4) **Updates IFEX alerts of 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** (MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 January 1999 MISA press release: CONTINUED DETENTION OF ZIMBABWEAN EDITOR MARK CHAVUNDUKA The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) deplores the continued detention of Mr. Mark Chavunduka, the editor of The Standard newspaper, […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing serious concern about the ill-treatment inflicted on Marc Chavunduka and Ray Choto, both journalists with the “Standard”. According to RSF’s information, both were beaten and one of them received electric shocks to his genitals. The military police wanted them to reveal their sources for a controversial article about an alleged […]

HASH(0x8963130) **Updates IFEX alerts of 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** (WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: WAN Protests Illegal Detention in Zimbabwe The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has asked President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to order the release of journalist Mark Chavhunduka, who was illegally detained by the […]

(FXI/IFEX) – Demonstrators marched through the streets of Harare on 16 January 1999 in protest against the detention of the editor of “The Standard”, Mark Chavunduka, at Cranborne barracks. Chavunduka was detained on 12 January following a story his newspaper ran that twenty three army officers had been arrested for their involvement in a coup […]

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the continuing detention of Mark Chavunduka, editor of the weekly “Standard”. **Updates IFEX alerts of 13 January 1999** Chavunduka, 34, was arrested by military police officers in Harare on 12 January 1999 and is being detained at Cranborne military barracks in connection with an article which the independent Sunday […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is concerned about reports that Mark Chavhunduka, editor of “The Standard” newpaper, was arrested on 12 January 1999 by military police officers and is being detained at Cranborne military barracks in connection with an article which the newspaper published regarding an alleged coup. According to ARTICLE 19’s information, no charge […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Mark Chavunduka, editor of the Zimbabwe Sunday newspaper “The Standard”, was arrested by Zimbabwean Military Police on 12 January 1999. It is believed that it is in conection with a story his paper ran in its latest edition concerning an alleged coup plot in Zimbabwe. Neither his family, friends or colleagues have knowledge […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 November 1998, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe invoked his powerful presidential powers to amend the country’s Labour Relations Act and ban industrial action similar to that witnessed in Zimbabwe since early November. **Updates IFEX alerts as noted in text** Mugabe’s decree bans “the inciting of, or taking part in, collective industrial action […]