Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Newspaper, editor freed from criminal libel charge
(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 June 1998, the “Post” newspaper and its former editor for special projects, Masautso Phiri, who was facing criminal libel charges brought by former vice-president, Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, were discharged of the offence when Miyanda withdrew the case. **Updates IFEX alerts of 14 April, 19, 13 and 10 March, and 26, […]
State will not initiate contempt proceedings against the “Post”
(MISA/IFEX) – On 1 June 1998, Zambian Attorney General, Bonaventure Mutale, told the Lusaka High Court that the state had no intention of proceeding with contempt of court proceedings against the “Post” newspaper. Mutale was addressing the court during a preliminary point in the treason trial stemming from the October 1997 attempted coup. **Updates IFEX […]
Court restricts number of journalists covering treason trial
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 May 1998, the administrator of the Lusaka High Court, Philip Musonda, announced that only one journalist each from a selected number of local and international news organisations would be allowed to cover the treason trial stemming from the October 1997 attempted coup. The trial began on 1 June. Musonda said the […]
Charges dropped against editor and reporter
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 May 1998, the Botswana Attorney General, Phandu Tombola Chaha Skelemani, withdrew all charges against the former editor of the “Okavango Observer”, Caitlin Davies, and reporter Letswetswe Phaladi. Davies and Phaladi, along with another employee of the paper, Andrew Dooley, and the owner, Anne Sandeberg, were charged two years ago with publishing […]
Appeal against the release of two journalists from indefinite imprisonment adjourned
(MISA/IFEX) – The case in which the state has appealed against the release of “The Post” newspaper’s editor-in-chief Fred M’membe and former managing editor Bright Mwape from indefinite imprisonment imposed by parliament, has been adjourned to 27 August 1998. The case is being heard in the Supreme Court in Lusaka. M’membe and Mwape were released […]
State gets injunction against “The Post”
(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 May 1998, the Zambian government obtained an ex-parte injunction barring “The Post”, a privately owned newspaper, from publishing statements made by state witnesses due to testify in the treason trial of those allegedly involved in the October 1997 attempted coup. The trial is due to begin on 1 June 1998. The […]
Newspaper offices burnt down
(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, the “Mail & Guardian” newspaper reported in its 22-28 May 1998 edition that the offices of three southern Cape newspapers have been burnt to the ground in an apparent revenge attack for reporting on the activities of gangs in the region. The “Mail & Guardian” report stated that the offices […]
MISA-Malawi protests government’s delay to enact Communications Bill
(MISA/IFEX) – The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) has strongly condemned its government’s delays in enacting the long-awaited Communications Bill and thereby liberalising the communications sector. **Updates IFEX alert of 14 May 1998** In a strongly worded protest letter sent to the Speaker of Parliament, Rodwell Munyenyembe, and copied to […]