Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Two reporters assaulted
(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 December 1999, two reporters were assaulted by some 100 polling station monitors in the Mozambican capital of Maputo. The Mozambican news agency, AIM, reported that the two reporters, Salomao Muiambo and Amadeu Marrengula, both of “Noticias” newspaper, were covering a demonstration of polling station monitors, who were demanding that the main […]
Espionage charge against journalist dropped, eleven others still on trial
**Updates IFEX alerts of 26 and 2 November, 29 October, 25 May, 30, 19 and 1 April, 26, 25, 22, 19, 18, 17, 15, 12, 11 and 10 March 1999** (MISA/IFEX) – On 25 November 1999, the Lusaka High Court dropped charges of espionage against “Post” news editor Mukalya Nampito-Mwangala. Eleven other journalists from the […]
Draft Constitution aims to set up media commission
(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwe’s draft Constitution, which was recently unveiled by a government-appointed commission, includes a section calling for the creation of a media commission with powers to take disciplinary action against media workers “who are found to have breached any law or code of conduct applicable to them”. Clause 213 of the Draft Constitution states […]
MISA calls for arrest in wake of abduction, assault on journalist
**Updates IFEX alert of 26 November 1999** (MISA/IFEX) – On 21 November 1999, Alphonsius Hamachila, a reporter for the independent “Monitor” newspaper, was abducted and assaulted by a ruling party by-election candidate and several of his supporters. The Inter-African Network for Human Rights and Development (Afronet), which publishes the “Monitor”, reported that Hamachila was abducted […]
Two men held on charges of sedition released on bail
**Updates IFEX alert of 16 November 1999** (MISA/IFEX) – On 29 November 1999, the High Court in Dar es Salaam ordered the release on bail of Reverend Christopher Mtikila and Ambokile Malele, who had both been held on charges of sedition in connection with cassettes containing allegedly defamatory statements about deceased former Tanzanian President Julius […]
Journalist Ray Choto receives another death threat
(MISA/IFEX) – Ray Choto of the “Standard” newspaper received yet another death threat on the afternoon of 29 November 1999. Choto told MISA-Zimbabwe that when he got back from lunch, he found a posted letter on his desk. When he opened it, he found another death threat, the second in two weeks. The letter informed […]
Government proposes review of press law, journalist still detained
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Angola has proposed that the current Press Law of Angola be reviewed. On 5 November 1999, Information Minister Hendrik Vaal Neto said that a commission representing all sectors – specifically the independent print media – would be called on to look into the issue. **Updates IFEX alerts on the Marques […]
Opposition party bans daily paper from covering its election activities
(MISA/IFEX) – Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, has told the daily paper “Noticias” not to cover any of the election campaign activities of its leader and presidential candidate, Afonso Dhlakama. **Updates IFEX alerts of 16 November and 28 October 1999** The director of the Renamo election office, Manuel Frank, and Dhlakama’s election agent, Luis Gouveia, […]