Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Libel suit judgment may shut down weekly paper
(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, the independent newspaper, “The Weekly Chronicle”, is threatened with closure following a court order to pay US$ 8,800.00 to the Reserve Bank of Malawi in defamatory costs. Rob Jamieson, the paper’s publisher, says he can hardly raise the amount as his publication subsists from hand to mouth, and the only […]
Former editor on trial
(MISA/IFEX) – On 7 April 1998, Masautso Phiri , former special projects editor for “The Post”, appeared before a magistrates court in the central Zambian town of Kabwe. Phiri has been charged with “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.” **Updates IFEX alerts of 25 and 26 August 1997** Phiri, who has denied […]
“The Post” reporter questioned, released
(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 April 1998, Dickson Jere, a reporter with “The Post”, who had been picked up by police for questioning, was released a few hours later without being charged. Reporter Amos Malupenga, who spoke to Jere at “The Post”‘s editorial offices after his release, told the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) that the […]
“The Post” reporter picked up by police
(MISA/IFEX) – “The Post” newspaper reporter Dickson Jere, who has been in hiding since December 1997, has finally been arrested. According to “The Post”‘s senior reporter Reuben Phiri, Jere was picked up by police for questioning on the morning of 8 April 1998. Police caught up with the journalist at Lusaka’s Evelyn Hone College of […]
Prime Minister berates journalists for “improper” coverage
(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, on 12 March 1998, two journalists working at the state-controlled Swazi TV were reprimanded by Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini for leaving a road construction site he had been touring before the tour was over. The Prime Minister, who is the head of government, accused Swazi TV journalists Mbuso Matsenjwa and […]
ZCTU urges workers to boycott “The Herald”
(MISA/IFEX) – On 12 March 1998, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called for a workers’ boycott of “The Herald” to run every Thursday and Friday. The boycott has been called to protest against biased reporting and the use of a public institution as a government propaganda tool. The ZCTU has accused the paper […]
Legislative body bars journalists from tabling questions during its sessions
(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, on 18 March 1998, the provincial portfolio committee on public works in the Mpumalanga legislature rejected an attempt by journalists to table questions during the committee’s sessions. It followed a written question from journalists requesting details of a threatened multi-million rand damages suit against the provincial government by German aviation […]
Writer freed from detention
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 February 1998 opposition United National Independent Party (UNIP) member and writer Frederick Mwanza was released from detention by President Chiluba. Mwanza, 67, was released together with five others when Chiluba revoked their presidential detention order. He was arrested on 14 November 1997 for suspected involvement in the failed coup of 28 […]