Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Radio station closed, several employees in hiding
(MISA/IFEX) – The Lozi-language service of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which is based in Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi province of Namibia, has ceased broadcasting following an occupation of the NBC building by armed attackers on 2 August 1999. Alleged secessionist rebels occupied the NBC building at Katima Mulilo while also attacking several other […]
“Majira” newspaper back on the street
(MISA/IFEX) – The Kiswahili-language daily newspaper “Majira” was back on the streets on 29 and 30 July 1999 following a seven day ban imposed on 22 July. The newspaper carried a front page apology in its 29 July edition, acknowledging that it had presented some incorrect calculations in a story that it carried on 22 […]
Government bans newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Tanzania has banned the daily Kiswahili-language newspaper “Majira” from being published, printed and circulated in Tanzania for seven days, effective 22 July 1999 at 5 p.m. (local time). The move followed a story carried in the newspaper’s 22 July edition which reported on proposed hefty pay packages for ministers and […]
President withholds assent on crucial bill
(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has reportedly refused to sign the new Public Order and Security Bill (POSB) into law, apparently because it does not contain tough measures against the media. The bill has subsequently been referred back to parliament for amendment. A report carried in the “Financial Gazette” newspaper said that Mugabe had […]
Journalist assaulted by parliamentary official
(MISA/IFEX) – On 13 July 1999, a journalist working for the Maputo daily “Noticias”, Felisberto Arnaca, reported that he was “physically attacked” by a parliamentary official, Valgy Tricamugy. The incident happened in the Maputo City Hall, while Arnaca was covering a special meeting of the Parliamentary Forum of the Portuguese Speaking Countries. Tricamugy is employed […]
Police assault television crew
(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 2 July 1999, a group of plain-clothes police officers pounced on two television crews from the state-owned Angola TPA network and the Portuguese state television channel RPT. They seized their cameras because they had filmed a gunfight involving a police squad and armed robbers in the centre of Luanda. Alves Fernandes, […]
High Court suspends journalists’ case
(MISA/IFEX) – The Malawi High Court has ordered the suspension of criminal investigations in a case in which two journalists are being accused of inciting mutiny until the court rules on whether the case should proceed. **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 June and 22 June 1999** The two journalists, “Malawi News” editor Horace Somanje and […]
Government postpones enactment of broadcasting legislation
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe has postponed the enactment of broadcasting legislation which was meant to pave the way for the opening up of the airwaves in that country. Speaking at a 6 July 1999 workshop on “Media Freedom, Responsibility and Ethics” organised by the British Council, Permanent Secretary of Information Willard Chiwewe said […]