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ALERT - ZAMBIA

27 February 2003

Journalists barred from covering Chiluba court case

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

(MISA/IFEX) - On 24 February 2003, police prevented five journalists from
covering court proceedings involving former president Frederick Chiluba.

Reuters correspondent Shapi Shacinda, Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent
and Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) Chairperson Dickson Jere, BBC
correspondent Penny Dale, "Post" newspaper assistant news editor Amos Malupenga
and Radio Phoenix reporter Wendy Mpolokoso were prevented from entering the
Lusaka Chikwa Magistrate's court to cover Chiluba's court appearance on charges
of "theft by a public servant".

Shacinda told ZIMA, MISA's Zambian chapter, that he tried to enter the courtroom
along with Jere, Malupenga and an unidentified journalist. A police officer
refused them admission. "We insisted we needed to enter but he said we cannot do
so. When we further insisted, we were pushed around and not allowed to enter,"
said Shacinda.

BBC correspondent Dale told ZIMA the following day that she was already in the
courtroom when a junior police officer asked her to go outside. "I asked why I
had to go out but he said a senior officer wanted to see me. When I went out, I
was told not to go back. Calling me out was a trick to get me out. He was
aggressive towards me," she said.

Dale said Chiluba's lawyer, Robert Simeza, convinced senior officers to allow
her and Mpolokoso back into the courtroom. She said the officers appeared to
have only been targeting certain journalists. "There were other journalists in
the room but they were not asked to leave," she stated.

In an interview with ZIMA, Malupenga also confirmed that he, Jere, Shacinda and
another unidentified journalist were prevented from entering the courtroom. "No
reasons were advanced except that there were already some journalists in the
courtroom. That is why it's an open court. It's supposed to be open to
everyone," Malupenga complained.

Jere criticised the action, saying it constituted harassment and infringement on
journalists' right to access information and the public's right to be informed.
"In as much as police are responsible for maintaining law and order, journalists
also have a duty and responsibility to cover issues of national interest on
behalf of the public, and should therefore be allowed to carry out their duties
freely," Jere said in a 25 February statement.

Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso could not be reached for comment.

BACKGROUND:
On 24 February, former president Chiluba was arrested and appeared in court,
charged with "theft by a public servant" of 190 billion kwacha (approx. US$38
million) in public funds. The arrest followed a ruling by the Supreme Court to
uphold the High Court and Parliament's 19 February decision to lift Chiluba's
immunity from prosecution.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975, fax:
+264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected], Internet:
http://www.misa.org/

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