MEDIA ALERT

9 SEPTEMBER 2002

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT REFUSED WORK PERMIT RENEWAL

Agence France Presse (AFP) foreign correspondent, Griffin Shea's application
for a renewal of his work permit has been turned down by the Zimbabwe
government, MISA-Zimbabwe has established.

Griffin told MISA-Zimbabwe that on Friday 7 September 2002, he received a
letter from the Department of Information and Publicity informing him that
his application had been turned down. He said that he will be leaving
Zimbabwe for Johannesburg, South Africa, and might return depending on the
outcome of the court cases filed by the Foreign Correspondence Association
against repressive clauses of the Access to Information and Protection of
Privacy Act.

Shea pointed out that the Minister of Information and Publicity Jonathan
Moyo had indicated to the AFP boss in June that he was unlikely to allow any
foreign journalists to work in Zimbabwe.
"The letter did not come as a surprise," said Griffin.
Griffin informed MISA-Zimbabwe that a Department of Information and
Publicity Official, Edward Mamutse had told him that the decision on which
foreign journalist works in Zimbabwe or not rests with the Department and
not the Media Commission.

When asked for comment Mamutse told MISA-Zimbabwe that noone has come up yet
from the foreign correspondents and their organizations to be registered.
"Foreign correspondents have to register their organization first before
they are registered themselves," said Mamutse.

Andrew Meldrum, the Foreign Correspondents' Association Chairperson said
that they are not sure on what is happening as far as the registration of
foreign correspondents is concerned.
"We have told our members to make individual decision on whether to register
or not," said Meldrum.
Meldrum told MISA-Zimbabwe that the number of foreign correspondents based
in Zimbabwe has gone down and some have already been given up to December to
wind up their business and leave.

The Department of Information Officer, Mamutse, promised to clarify the
issue to MISA-Zimbabwe on Tuesday 10 September.
END

Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe
221 Fife Ave
Box HR 8113
Harare
Zimbabwe

Phone: 00 263 4 721 841, 735 441-2
Cell : 00 263 4 011 602 685
E mail: [email protected]