Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
MISA protests banning of newspapers by the Zanzibar authorities
(MISA/IFEX) – The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) confirms meeting with the Zanzibar Minister of Information, Culture, Tourism and Youth, Issa Mohammed Issa, in his office on Friday, 21 August 1998 to discuss the continued banning of newspapers in Zanzibar. ***For background, see IFEX alert dated 21 August 1998*** The minister gave no commitment […]
President and Home Affairs minister serve separate summonses on newspaper
(MISA/IFEX) – The President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, and the country’s Home Affairs Minister, Jerry Ekandjo, have served separate summonses on the weekly newspaper, the “Windhoek Observer”, for defamation claims totalling N$ 1,215,000 (roughly US$ 200,000). In the first case, on 7 August 1998, Nujoma served a summons on “Windhoek Observer” editor Hannes Smith, demanding […]
Government officials castigate reporter because of story
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 June 1998, Namibian Cabinet Secretary Isaac Kaulinge, in a private meeting held at the office of the Premier, allegedly castigated reporter Max Hamata for a story which appeared in the “Namibian” newspaper two days earlier. Hamata, who works for the Namibian News Agency (NAMPA), was called to the meeting along with […]
Journalist Betty Masanja interrogated; pressured into writing a statement against her will
(MISA/IFEX) – On 30 July 1998, a journalist with the private Dar es Salaam Television (DTV), Betty Masanja, was interrogated by police and forced to provide a written statement to be a state witness in order to associate the vice-chairman of the Zanzibar-based Civic United Front (CUF) party, Seif Shariff Hamad, with charges of treason […]
Newspaper, journalists and others strike out against President’s attack on the press
(MISA/IFEX) – The “Zimbabwe Independent”, a weekly independent newspaper, has lambasted President Robert Mugabe’s attack on the independent media. In its 17 July editorial, the paper dismissed Mugabe’s outburst and his threats to introduce legislation. The paper said the President’s threat to curb press freedom “should be seen more as a reflection of his anger […]
President attacks independent press
(MISA/IFEX) – On 13 July 1998, President Robert Mugabe attacked the independent press for “not respecting the privacy of individuals.” He was speaking on the eve of the opening of the Fourth Session of the Fourth Parliament at State House. He said that the privately-owned press was “thriving on selling manufactured lies to the people […]
Journalists allegedly assaulted, charged with trespassing
(MISA/IFEX) – A journalist and a cameraman from the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) have both been charged with trespassing after they were allegedly assaulted, on 23 June 1998, by the manager of a private Catholic school they were doing a story on. The two NBC employees, Unomengi Kauapirura and cameraman Hadley Mwashekeleh, have since laid […]
Journalists detained, accused of spying for opposition forces
(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 April 1998, two journalists working for the newspaper “Folha 8”, along with a driver, were detained for a week after being accused of being spies for the Angolan opposition force, UNITA, and of stopping their car illegally in a police zone. According to a report in “Folha 8”, the journalists, Victoria […]