Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Civil society groups reject second draft of the Public Order and Security Bill
(MISA/IFEX) – On 28 May 1998, various civil society organisations rejected the second draft of the Public Order and Security Bill. The bill, which was gazetted in April 1998, will seek to replace the notorious Law and Order (Maintenance) Act of 1960. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 20 February 1998 and 13 November 1997** While the […]
Journalists come under pressure to reveal source of newspaper article
(MISA/IFEX) – At least four journalists have come under pressure variously from the police and private individuals to reveal the source of an article which appeared in January in the satirical weekly newspaper, “Sanifu”. The article, entitled “Askofu Msaidizi Ajisetiri na Mke wa Muumini”, reported on an unnamed Assistant Bishop who was having an affair […]
Government official accuses certain newspapers of having a “hidden agenda”
(MISA/IFEX) – “The Post” newspaper reports that, on 13 June 1998, Lusaka Provincial Deputy Minister Sonny Mulenga accused some unnamed private newspapers of “having a hidden agenda of discrediting the [ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy] MMD leadership”. The paper quotes Mulenga, who was addressing MMD supporters in Lusaka, as saying that the MMD leadership was […]
Newspaper executives appeal against ban on their papers, apologise for mistakes
(MISA/IFEX) – On 11 June 1998, the chief executives of the “Kasheshe”, “Chombeza” and “Arusha leo” publications requested that the government of Tanzania consider lifting the bans imposed on their newspapers on 8 June. It was the second such appeal made to their government. The managing director of The Guardian Limited, Vumi Urassa, appeared for […]
Government to scrap tax exemption on newsprint
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Tanzania has recommended to Parliament that the import tax exemption on newsprint granted in 1997 be abolished. The move is expected to have a heavy toll on Tanzania’s burgeoning newspaper industry, which in recent years has flourished almost unhindered. Unveiling the Government Budget speech for the 1998/99 financial year in […]
Editors of banned newspapers have talks with Minister; defunct paper revived
(MISA/IFEX) – The editors of the three Kiswahili-language newspapers that were banned by the Tanzanian government met Minister of Information Kingunge Ngombare Mwiru to plead their case. Deo Masakilija, the editor of “Arusha Leo”, and Saidi Msonda, the editor of “Kasheshe”, both told MISA that the meeting in Dodoma on 9 June was cordial, with […]
“The Post” editor-in-chief initiates civil lawsuit following alleged illegal tapping of newspaper’s telephones
(MISA/IFEX) – The state owned Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL) and the Zambian Attorney General have been included as respondents, along with the Zambian inspector general of police, in a civil suit initiated by the editor-in-chief of the privately-owned newspaper “The Post”, Fred M’membe. The civil action stems from the alleged illegal tapping of the newspaper’s […]
Journalist Simaon Roberto killed
(MISA/IFEX) – According to information received variously from the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) in Namibia and the Portuguese service of Channel Africa radio, Simaon Roberto, a journalist for the government-owned “Journal de Angola”, was gunned down in Luanda on 5 June 1998. Roberto was returning from the State House, where he had covered […]