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

4 February 2002

Australian journalist denied accreditation

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

(MISA/IFEX) - Despite assurances by the Zimbabwean government that foreign
journalists will be allowed in the country, Australian journalist Sally Sara
has been denied accreditation.

In a 23 January 2002 article in the state-owned newspaper "The Herald",
Department of Information and Publicity Permanent Secretary George Charamba
said that the request by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to send a
reporter to Zimbabwe was not genuine.

Charamba stated that the Australian government had used their application to
test Zimbabwe's commitment to the Abuja agreement. The Abuja agreement was
brokered by Nigeria in an attempt to ease the tension between Britain and
Zimbabwe over the controversial land issue and human right abuses. Under the
agreement, the Zimbabwean government agreed to allow local and foreign
journalists to operate unhindered.

Charamba added that the Australian government wanted to use the case to
indict the Zimbabwean government at the upcoming Commonwealth Summit in
Australia. He said that his department consults with bona fide journalists
and noted that he is concerned when such matters become government business.
"As a matter of policy we will treat requests for visits by news people on
their own merit, not in terms of which government official is behind them.
We deal with news people, not governments, otherwise you begin to wonder
whether you are dealing with a bona fide reporter," said Charamba.

"The Herald" reported that Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
wrote a letter to Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge complaining about
the Information Department's refusal to accredit the journalist. The
newspaper reported that Downer, in his letter to Mudenge, said that the
Abuja agreement recognised freedom of expression and that he would be
surprised if the Zimbabwean government decided to walk away from the
agreement.

Charamba commented on the letter, stating that his department was very clear
about the details of the Abuja agreement. "Abuja talks about [.] freedom of
expression. It does not talk about the freedom of journalists to walk in and
out and to roam the country to their delight without any recognition of the
rules and laws of this country," said Charamba. "There are rules and this is
why Abuja recognises Zimbabwe's laws and ask[s] for [the] enjoyment of
freedom of expression in terms of the rules and laws of Zimbabwe," he said.

At the Southern Africa Development Community meeting held in Malawi on 14
January, President Robert Mugabe agreed that his government would respect
freedom of expression principles and also allow foreign journalists to cover
important national events. However, this would be done in accordance with
Zimbabwe's laws. With the passing of the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Bill (see IFEX alerts of 1 February, 31, 25, 21, 18,
15, 11, 9 and 8 January 2002, 14 and 3 December, 29 October, 2 August, 25
July, 26 June, 9 April and 13 March 2001), foreign journalists will be
allowed to visit Zimbabwe to cover specific events. Foreign journalists'
accreditation for longer periods, however, remains banned and the act is
silent on what is meant by a "short period".

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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