IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT UPDATE - ZIMBABWE

16 October 2003

Four more journalists charged

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 October, 26, 24, 23, 22, 18, 17 and 15 September
2003**

(MISA/IFEX) - Four more journalists from "The Daily News" have been charged by
police for practicing without accreditation, as required by the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIIPA).

MISA has confirmed that Bulawayo-based journalists Chris Gande, Oscar Nkala,
Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu and Grey Chitika are the latest to be charged under the
AIPPA.

The four new charges bring to 20 the total number of Associated Newspapers of
Zimbabwe (ANZ) journalists arrested under the AIPPA.

The journalists were charged with violating Section 80(1)(3), which compels
every practising journalist to be accredited by the Media and Information
Commission (MIC).

The police obtained "warned and cautioned" statements from the four journalists
and say the will proceed by way of summons.

BACKGROUND:
The Zimbabwean government closed the privately-owned newspaper on 12 September
2003, for failing to register with the MIC under the AIPPA. Section 66 of the
AIPPA stipulates that all media houses must register with the MIC.

The ban follows an 11 September Supreme Court ruling that "The Daily News" was
operating illegally.

On 25 September, MISA appealed to the MIC to approve all applications for
registration from journalists working for "The Daily News" as their applications
should not be linked to that of their employer. MISA pointed out that failure to
register these journalists is in violation of their right to freedom of
association. Journalists should be able to obtain their licences separately from
that of their employer, as they should be able to work for any employer or even
freelance, MISA said.

Article 14 of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Charter of
Fundamental Social Rights states that, "every individual shall be free to choose
and engage in an occupation of that person's choice". All media practitioners
have the right to work, to pursue productive endeavour, to engage in voluntary
contracts, and to the proceeds of their labour. No individual, and by extension,
no government, has the right to restrict an individual's freedom to choose his
or her employer, given that they are not impinging on the rights of others, MISA
pointed out.

MISA maintains that the AIPPA is undemocratic and places severe restrictions on
the type of information journalists can report. The AIPPA gives the government
wide powers to decide who can practice journalism in the country, while foreign
media companies are prohibited from owning local outlets. In addition, the act
created the MIC to monitor press complaints. The influential chair of the
commission is handpicked by the minister of information.

For further information, contact Zoé Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975, fax:
+264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected] [2] or [email protected] [3], Internet:
http://www.misa.org/ [4]

The information contained in this alert update is the sole responsibility of
MISA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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