Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Woman convicted for possession of pornography
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 May 1998, a Chinese national, Xiang Rong, who pleaded guilty to possession of pornographic materials, was fined K1.6 million (US$840) by a Lusaka Magistrate. Her lawyer, Michael Musonda, told the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) that the material found in her possession consisted of “soft pornographic” magazines and a video. “This […]
Government bans three newspapers because of alleged pornographic cartoons
(MISA/IFEX) – On 6 June 1998, the Government of Tanzania announced the ban of three Kiswahili weekly tabloids. The newspapers “Kasheshe”, “Chombeza” and “Arusha Leo” were banned with effect from 8 June for what the Government described as the papers’ persistent featuring of pornographic cartoons. In the statement issued on 6 June, Minister of State […]
Newspaper journalist detained and beaten by police
(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 June 1998, police in Dar es Salaam beat and briefly detained “Mtanzania” photojournalist Ally Mwankufi. At the time, Mwankufi was taking pictures of police arresting suspects at Kinondoni Mkwajuni in the Kinondoni district following the murder of an individual. Mwankufi told MISA-Tanzania that four police officers arrested him at 10.40 am […]
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 […]