(MISA/IFEX) – On 14 March 2000, Trevor Ncube and Iden Wetherell, editor-in-chief and deputy director of the weekly “Independent” newspaper, respectively, made “warned and cautioned statements” to the police in presence of their attorney regarding an alleged contravention of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act. The contravention was related to a Reuters photograph the paper […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 14 March 2000, Trevor Ncube and Iden Wetherell, editor-in-chief and deputy director of the weekly “Independent” newspaper, respectively, made “warned and cautioned statements” to the police in presence of their attorney regarding an alleged contravention of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.
The contravention was related to a Reuters photograph the paper carried on 3 March that showed a group of naked Austrians outside of a Vienna department store. At the time of the newspaper’s publication, Wetherell was the acting editor as Ncube was outside the country on business.
The police told the “Independent” that “inquiries are being made in connection with a case of contravening Section 13 (1) (a) as read with sub-section (6) of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act”.
The “Independent” has maintained the position that the photograph was not in any way indecent, and questioned the constitutionality of the charge.
In a statement submitted to MISA, Ncube wrote, “At a time when Zimbabweans are facing unprecedented hardships as a result of gross economic mismanagement and corruption, it is significant that the attorney-general, a member of the cabinet, has instructed the police to investigate a newspaper that has been outspoken in its criticism of government for not upholding the rule of law.
“The attorney-general has been supine in response to demands that he investigate allegations of abduction and torture of journalists by agents of the state last year. The police have, for what they admit are political reasons, declined to prevent the recent occupation of farms or subsequent threats against their owners and damage to property.
“This reflects unacceptable double standards. The ‘Zimbabwe Independent’ welcomes the opportunity to challenge the colonial Censorship and Entertainment Control Act and rejects this latest move to intimidate and muzzle the press.”
