Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Opposition party complains about bias by state-controlled media
(MISA/IFEX) – A newly-formed Zambian opposition party has complained of a lack of access to public print and electronic media in that country. The United Party for National Development (UPND), said in a statement in Lusaka this week that since their formation late last year, their activities had scarcely been covered by the state owned […]
Court rules for journalists to seek medical treatment, state appeals
(MISA/IFEX) – A magistrates court in Zimbabwe has granted an application to alter the bail conditions of two tortured “Standard” newspaper journalists, Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, allowing them to leave Zimbabwe for medical treatment in the United Kingdom. **Updates IFEX alerts of 12 February, 11 February, 10 February, 9 February, 3 February, 29 January, […]
Minister calls for tougher libel laws
(MISA/IFEX) – On 16 February 1999, the Zambian minister of Education, Godfrey Miyanda, said in parliament that the law relating to libel and defamation in the country needed amendment because some sections of the press were abusing it. Stating that press freedom did not entail newspapers “disparaging people with impunity, Miyanda called on legal affairs […]
Politicians launch libel suit against newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Ponatshego Kedikilwe and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Deputy Treasury, Satar Dada, have launched a libel law suit against the proprietor of the “Botswana Guardian” and editor Outsa Mokone. The two are demanding P1 million (approx. US$4,670,000) each in damages. This follows a story published by […]
Politicians launch libel suit against newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Ponatshego Kedikilwe and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Deputy Treasury, Satar Dada, have launched a libel law suit against the proprietor of the “Botswana Guardian” and editor Outsa Mokone. The two are demanding P1 million (approx. US$4,670,000) each in damages. This follows a story published by […]
Defence to argue that sections of law under which journalists are charged are unconstitutional
(MISA/IFEX) – Two of the four journalists from the “Zimbabwe Mirror” who were arrested by Zimbabwean police on 8 February 1999 were on 9 February formally charged and released on bail. Reporter Grace Kwinjeh and the group publisher of the paper, Ibbo Mandaza, were released on bail of Zim$5,000 (US$135). They were both charged under […]
Government proposes measures to clamp down on independent press; President lashes out at the private media
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe, faced with criticism nationally and abroad, plans to introduce stringent measures to regulate the operations of private sector media organisations in Zimbabwe. This was announced on 4 February 1999 by Minister of Information Chen Chimutengwende, at the end of a workshop in Kariba. The purpose of the workshop was […]
Journalists charged and expected to appear in court
(MISA/IFEX) – Four journalists arrested by Zimbabwean police on 8 February 1999 have been charged and were to appear in the Magistrate’s Court in Harare on 9 February at 11a.m. (local time). The news and managing editor of the “Zimbabwe Mirror”, Fernando Goncalves, reporter Grace Kwinjeh and former news editor Farai Mungazi were arrested on […]