Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Journalist barred from covering trial
(MISA/IFEX) – The “Daily Mail” in Tanzania reports that on 8 December 1998, one of its freelance journalists, Ali Sultan, was denied access to the Vuga Magistrate’s Court in Zanzibar, where he had gone to cover the treason trial of eighteen members of the opposition CUF party. Sultan was prevented from going in by uniformed […]
Government bans Swahili tabloid
(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 December 1998, the government of Tanzania banned the weekly Swahili-language tabloid “Chombeza” for allegedly publishing a photograph which showed an individual’s private parts, reports the “Gaurdian” newspaper. The ban comes less than two months after a previous ban on the paper was lifted. **Updates IFEX alerts of 24 June, 15 June […]
Government bans workers’ strikes as controversial new law aimed at regulating demonstrations is approved by parliament
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 November 1998, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe invoked his powerful presidential powers to amend the country’s Labour Relations Act and ban industrial action similar to that witnessed in Zimbabwe since early November. **Updates IFEX alerts as noted in text** Mugabe’s decree bans “the inciting of, or taking part in, collective industrial action […]
Newspaper offices stormed by irate readers
(MISA/IFEX) – On 1 December 1998, scores of supporters of presidential aspirant Anderson Mazoka stormed the Livingstone bureau offices of the “Zambia Daily Mail” in protest against a lead story the previous day which linked Mazoka to satanism, reports the “Post” newspaper. The “Mail” carried a story titled “Devil’s club exposed” which reported that Mazoka […]
Journalist briefly detained
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 November 1998, police in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, briefly detained the Zambian correspondent for Channel Africa Radio, Mweene Miyanda, after she interviewed one of the 1997 coup suspects currently on trial for treason. Miyanda was picked up at the High Court when she allegedly interviewed opposition Zambia Democratic Congress president Dean […]
Further harassment of journalist by South African soldiers
(MISA/IFEX) – South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers have again targeted freelance journalist and columnist with the “Public Eye” newspaper, Naleli Ntlama, for alleged harassment. On 26 November 1998, SANDF soldiers were seen at Ntlama’s house. The journalist was absent from his home at the time. The soldiers left a message with Ntlama’s neighbours […]
Further run-ins between journalists and Namibian authorities
(MISA/IFEX) – A second television crew from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has briefly been detained in northern Namibia’s Caprivi region while reporting on the tension in that area, reports the “Namibian” newspaper. It is the second SABC crew to be detained in that area in less than a week. **Updates IFEX alert of […]
Journalists detained and released, others harassed by soldiers
(MISA/IFEX) – A reporter and a camera operator from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were released on 19 November 1998 following a brief detention at Katima Mulilo in northern Namibia. Montlenyane Diphoko and Thabo Modise were arrested on 18 November by Namibian Immigration authorities shortly after entering the country via Botswana. The two were […]