Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
“Post” editor M’membe’s “espionage” judgement date set
(MISA/IFEX) – Judgement of the case in which “Post” newspaper editor-in-chief Fred M’membe is charged with espionage will be handed down on 21 December 2000. This was confirmed by Trial Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe on 25 October, at the end of M’membe’s two-day trial. Meanwhile, in their oral submission, the defence team pleaded for the acquittal […]
Editor allegedly threatened
(MISA/IFEX) – “The Herald” newspaper reports that Manicaland politician Shadreck Beta allegedly threatened the news editor of the “Manica Post”, Herbert Mutugwi, over an article about the recent suspension of his executive powers by Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Chairman John Nkomo. Beta is said to have taken exception to the use […]
Editor loses defamation case
(MISA/IFEX) – The editor of “MoAfrika” magazine, Candi Ramainoane, has lost an appeal in the Lesotho Court of Appeal against a High Court award of damages for defamation totalling more than 100,000 ZARands (US$13,210) to a member of the Lesotho Parliament. The High Court had awarded R99,000 (US$13,078) as compensatory damages and R15,000 (US$1,982) as […]
Government body declares new broadcasting regulations unconstitutional
(MISA/IFEX) – The legal committee of Zimbabwe’s Parliament, a panel which checks the legality of laws brought to the House, has declared the new regulations on broadcasting unconstitutional. The “Financial Gazette”, an independent weekly newspaper, quoted “authoritative sources” as saying that the regulations that were gazetted using the presidential powers violated the country’s constitution. The […]
Several journalists harassed, speech curbed
(MISA/IFEX) – Several journalists have been harassed amid mounting tensions in the country stemming from the forced evictions of people in the Macetjeni and KaMkhweli areas because of a chieftancy dispute. According to reports, the two chiefs in the area have been demoted by the Swaziland National Council (SNC) and another chief imposed in their […]
Media Monitoring Project condemns assault on journalists
(MISA/IFEX) – According to the Media Monitoring Project in Zimbabwe (MMPZ), members of the Zimbabwe National Army severely assaulted four journalists in Dzivaresekwa on 18 October 2000. The four, who were stopped by soldiers in armoured cars, were dragged from their vehicle by a group of up to a dozen soldiers, forced to lie on […]
Radio reporter detained, interrogated, charged with false news provisions
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 September 2000, Mazuba Mwiinga, a volunteer reporter working for Mazabuka community radio station in Southern Zambia, pleaded “not guilty” in the Mazabuka magistrate’s court to a charge of “publishing false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public”. The charge arose from a complaint brought to the police […]
Editor dismissed, speaks of political interference at newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The editor of the main state-owned daily newspaper “The Herald”, Bornwell Chakaodza, has been dismissed from his post effective 31 October 2000. It is widely believed his dismissal is due to his editorial stance of wanting to move away from open and unquestioning support for the government. “The Standard” newspaper reports that Chakaodza […]