Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
“Swazi Observer” news editor Donny Nxumalo suspended
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 4 August, 13 July 8 June and 13 March 1995** The news editor of the “Swazi Observer”, Donny Nxumalo, has been suspended indefinitely for writing what the paper’s management terms “defamatory statements” about public figures. The “Observer” is a daily newspaper owned by a trust headed by Swaziland’s head of state, […]
Former president arrested for addressing rally
Kaunda was charged under the Public Order Act with illegally addressing a public rally on 17 June. According to “The Post” of Zambia, the 71-year-old former president turned himself over to police after an initial attempt to arrest him at Lusaka International airport on 6 August “flopped”. Kaunda was released on bail after being cautioned […]
“Financial Gazette” publisher, editor and deputy editor found guilty of criminal defamation
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 3 August, 24 and 16 July, and 16 and 10 June 1995** The publisher, editor and deputy editor of Zimbabwe’s “Financial Gazette” have been found guilty of criminal defamation, and are now awaiting sentencing, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reports. Deputy editor Simba Makunike was found guilty of actual intent […]
Producers resign after denied access to NBC footage
**For background to previous incident, see IFEX alert dated 14 June 1995** Video footage in which a minister made controversial comments about a newly-formed political party went missing from the archives of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), prompting two senior producers to resign because of what they termed “political interference.” Executive Producer of Television Current […]
Ministerial pressure on paper is “more than family row,” says MISA
A newspaper is under pressure from a cabinet minister following the paper’s publication of a story speculating that the minister wanted to resign from cabinet. “The Weekly Chronicle” led its 3 July 1995 edition with a story headlined “Patel resigns?”, in which an unnamed source disclosed that then-Minister of Mines and Energy Rolph Patel had […]
“Financial Gazette” editors name sources; individuals identified as sources deny leak
**Updates IFEX alert dated 24 July, 10 and 16 June and 16 July 1995** Trevor Ncube, editor of the “Financial Gazette”, has named the person the journalist says fed his paper with information which resulted in Ncube, “Gazette” publisher Elias Rusike, and “Gazette” deputy-editor Simba Makunike being charged with criminal defamation. According to the South […]
Gay organization barred from book fair
An organization representing gays and lesbians has been barred from the Zimbabwe International Book Fair as a result of government pressure. Organizers of the fair on 29 August 1995 stopped Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) from running a stand at the fair, the theme of which is Human Rights and Freedom of Expression. Opening […]
Journalist Edina Ndejembi acquitted; trial pending for 10 others
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 21 April 1995** Edina Ndejembi, the freelance journalist charged with “obstructing the police” was acquitted by Moshi magistrates on 26 June 1995. Her case had previously been adjourned on three occasions, much to the inconvenience of the journalist, who had to travel 600-or-so kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Moshi […]