Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Journalists suspended over “disgraced” minister story
(MISA/IFEX) – On 24 July 2001, Gershom Ndhlovu, acting news editor of the state-owned “Zambia Daily Mail”, and Jonathan Bwalya, a sub-editor, were suspended from work over a story published in the 23 July edition of the newspaper, which described a minister as “disgraced.” The introduction to the story published on the “Home news page” […]
Reporter and opposition politician arrested and charged with “defamation of the president”
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 July 2001, Bivan Saluseki, a reporter working for the privately-owned “Post” newspaper, was arrested and charged jointly with Edith Nawakwi, a senior opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) official, for “defamation of the president.” Both denied the charge. According to the 26 July edition of the “Post”, the charge stemmed […]
Independent media slams appointment of Professionalism and Ethics Committee
(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwe’s independent newspapers have rapped the government for appointing a partisan committee to look into professionalism standards and journalistic ethics in the country, “The Financial Gazette” reported in its 26 July – 1 August 2001 issue. The committee, which was appointed on Monday 23 July, has been criticised for being a group of […]
Government bans magazines, suspends tabloids
(MISA/IFEX) – The Tanzanian government has banned nine Kiswahili local weekly magazines and suspended three tabloids for allegedly publishing indecent photographs that corrupt society and thwart campaigns to combat HIV-AIDS in the country, the local English daily paper “The Guardian” reported on Friday 27 July 2001. Announcing the decision, the heaviest in the recent history […]
Pro-government journalist threatened and beaten up
(MISA/IFEX) – Early on the morning of Thursday 26 July 2001, a group of about ten people, suspected of being opposition supporters, beat up journalist Ken Ndanga, of the controversial pro-government weekly tabloid “The Sun”. Ndanga, whose newspaper has been waging an undeclared war against the newly-formed opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) pressure group of […]
President confirms tabling of bill
(MISA/IFEX) – On Tuesday 24 July 2001 Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said his government would table The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Bill in the forthcoming second parliamentary session that was officially opened on 24 July. “The Herald” quoted the president as saying that the parliamentary session would consider the Freedom of Information […]
King Mswati III repeals controversial decree
(MISA/IFEX) – King Mswati III repealed controversial Decree No 2 of 2001 after a marathon meeting between the Cabinet and Swaziland National Council (SNC) members. Swaziland’s prime minister announced this at a press conference on the night of 24 July 2001, and indicated that Decree No 2 of 2001 would be replaced by Decree No […]
Provisional court interdict for newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – “Zimbabwe Mirror” editor-in-chief Ibbo Mandaza has obtained a High Court provisional which bars “The Daily News” from further publishing material relating to his private property, according to reports in “The Herald” and “The Zimbabwe Mirror”. The newspapers reported that Justice Hungwe handed down the order on Thursday 19 July 2001, after an urgent […]