Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Minister comments on guidelines for proposed Freedom of Information Bill
(MISA/IFEX) – The Freedom of Information Bill that the government has proposed would regulate the flow of information, indicate under what circumstances information held by individuals or about individuals would be released or made public, and outline which information is protected in the interests of national security, public order, health, financial security and banking processes, […]
Minister defends Broadcasting Services Act
(MISA/IFEX) – The Minister of State for Information and Publicity, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has defended the Broadcasting Services Act 2001, saying that the adverse report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee has no bearing since the House is superior and has the final say, “The Financial Gazette” reported on 5 April 2001. In an interview with […]
Editor and journalists charged with criminal defamation
(MISA/IFEX) – Geoffrey Nyarota, editor-in-chief of “The Daily News”, and two of his reporters, Sandra Nyaira and Julius Zava, were charged with criminal defamation on Wednesday 4 April 2001, according to a 5 April “The Daily News” report. The charges arise from the publication of a story linking President Robert Mugabe and the speaker of […]
New agency could threaten press freedom
(MISA/IFEX) – The South African government’s plans to form an independent Media Diversity and Development Agency (MDDA) to regulate the South African media industry could lead to political interference with press freedom, the Print Media Association of South Africa (PMSA) warned on 4 April 2001. The association was responding to comments by Minister in the […]
High Court bars newspaper from reporting on story
(MISA/IFEX) – The High Court has ordered the “Zimbabwe Independent” to show cause why it should not be stopped from publishing stories of an alleged lawsuit by the Ford Foundation against Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo, “The Herald” reported on Wednesday 4 April 2001. Justice Chinhengo issued the order on Tuesday […]
Broadcasting Services Bill passed into law
(MISA/IFEX) – The controversial Broadcasting Services Bill 2001 was passed into law on 3 April 2001. All Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) legislators, who are in the majority, rejected a second adverse report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee, opting instead for a speedy adoption of the bill, MISA-Zimbabwe established on 4 April. The opposition […]
Journalist barred from covering ZANU-PF election
(MISA/IFEX) – “The Daily News” reporter Pedzisai Ruhanya was barred from covering the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party’s Harare provincial elections as war veterans accused the daily paper of being “an enemy of war veterans and the party,” “The Daily News” reported on 2 April 2001. Two people who identified themselves as […]
Minister sues “The Daily News”
(MISA/IFEX) – Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo has filed a Z$450,000 (US$8,000) lawsuit against “The Daily News” for publishing alleged defamatory articles about him, “The Herald” reported on 30 March 2001. In the papers filed on 29 March at the High Court by Moyo’s lawyer, “The Daily News” Editor-in-chief Geoffrey Nyarota, […]