Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

(MISA/IFEX) – The medical report following the examination of the two formerly detained journalists from the “Standard” newspaper, Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, has confirmed beyond doubt that the two were tortured. With respect to Choto, the physician who examined him concluded in his report: “I would say that there is no doubt in my […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Lesotho is currently examining evidence with a view to possibly charging the editor of “MoAfrika” magazine, Candi Ramainoane, following the publication of several articles criticising a court martial underway in the country. **Updates IFEX alerts of 27 January and 21 January 1999** The matter was referred […]

(MISA/IFEX) – “The Namibian” newspaper and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) this week reached an out-of-court settlement with five former police and military offices, who were poised to sue the two institutions for defamation totaling more than N$1.2-million. The matter was due to come before the court on 8 February 1999. The five plaintiffs – […]

(MISA/IFEX) – “The Standard” newspaper reports that it is working to press charges of contempt of court against several government officials, including Defence Minister Moven Mahachi and his permanent secretary, Job Whabira, for defying three High Court orders to free the paper’s editor, Mark Chavunduka, from illegal detention by military police. **Updates IFEX alerts of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Zambian High Court last week fined the inspector general of police, Francis Ndhlovu, one million kwacha (US$400) for failing to appear at a hearing in which he is being sued by the independent “Post” newspaper. Ndhlovu failed to appear without providing any explanation, prompting the conviction. **Updates IFEX alert of 10 June […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The PANA news agency reports that Mozambican police in the northern province of Cabo Delgado unlawfully detained a reporter without charge for twenty three days because he denounced their brutality. Quoting the Maputo daily “Noticias” of 26 January 1999, the news agency said the journalist, Fernando Quinova, was a correspondent for the state-owned […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following item is forwarded by MISA from the PANA Dakar news feed: Two Côte d’Ivoire journalists, accused of defamation, have been given a six-month suspended sentence each and fined 500,000 CFA francs (approx. US$868) each after being found guilty of the charge by a court in Abidjan. The two, Diegou Bailly, director […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 January 1999, the managing editor of the “Standard” newspaper, Clive Wilson, was released unconditionally after the Attorney General refused to prosecute him for what he said was the police’s lack of evidence. **Updates IFEX alerts of 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January […]