(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** Paris, 11 February 1999 For immediate release WAN Condemns Zimbabwe Press Crackdown The World Association of […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3
February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18
January, 15 January and 13 January 1999**
Paris, 11 February 1999
For immediate release
WAN Condemns Zimbabwe Press Crackdown
The World Association of Newspapers has condemned the unlawful detention
and alleged torture of journalists in Zimbabwe and has called on
President Robert Mugabe to end the government’s crackdown on the
independent press.
“We are particularly dismayed that these events should occur in a
country such as Zimbabwe which espouses democracy and professes to
uphold the rule of law,” WAN said in a letter to President Mugabe. “It
is also saddening to witness the prosecution of journalists under laws
originally drafted to entrench apartheid.”
“We respectfully request that all detained journalists are released
immediately, charges against them and their colleagues dropped, and
harassment of the press halted,” said the letter, signed by WAN
President Bengt Braun. “Moreover, we urge you to ensure that a full
investigation into the unlawful arrests and alleged torture is
undertaken, and those responsible brought to justice.”
WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry, which represents
15,000 newspapers, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide.
Two Zimbabwean journalists – Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto of The
Standard newspaper – were illegally detained by the military last month
following the newspaper’s story about an alleged plot by soldiers to
overthrow the government.
On their release, Mr Chavunduka and Mr Choto said they had been tortured
while being interrogated by the military. They have subsequently been
charged with the “crime” of publishing false reports that were “likely
to cause alarm, fear or despondency to the public” and could face a
maximum prison sentence of seven years.
Other arrests have followed. Clive Wilson, the managing director of The
Standard, was held in jail for three nights before being released
unconditionally. Also arrested were Zimbabwe Mirror Publisher and Editor
Ibbo Mandaza, Reporter Grace Kwinjeh, News Editor Fernando Goncalves and
their colleague Farai Mungazi.
The Paris-based WAN’s membership includes 57 national newspaper
publisher associations, individual newspaper executives in 90 countries,
17 news agencies and seven regional press groups.
