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

16 December 2003

Journalist detained, equipment confiscated

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

(MISA/IFEX) - Martin Chimenya, a journalist for the Voice of the People
Communications Trust (VOP), was arrested on 8 December 2003 in the city of
Masvingo, 293 kilometres south of the capital, Harare.

He was charged under Section 79 (1) of the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for allegedly practicing as a journalist
without accreditation. Under this section, journalists are not allowed to
work without a licence from the Media and Information Commission.

The Magistrate's Court released Chimenya on Z$15,000 bail (approx. US$19) on
10 December. He was ordered to appear in court on 23 December. His tape
recorder and tapes have yet to be returned.

Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) arrested Chimenya at
his Masvingo home on 8 December. The agents ordered him to take all his
equipment with him, which included tapes and a tape recorder. Chimenya's
whereabouts were unknown until the afternoon of 9 December, as the police
initially denied that he had been arrested.

Tongai Matutu, a lawyer hired by MISA-Zimbabwe to locate and represent
Chimenya, was only able to see the journalist on the afternoon of 9 December
at the Masvingo central police station. Other journalists in the city
informed MISA-Zimbabwe that Chimenya was handed over to the police on 9
December. CIO agents do not have the authority to make arrests under
Zimbabwean law.

The police also accused Chimenya of recording interviews in which President
Robert Mugabe was denigrated. "Denigrating the president" is an offence
under Section 16 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Following his release, Chimenya told MISA-Zimbabwe that he was not harassed
or beaten while in custody. He added that his interrogators wanted to find
out which organisation he worked for and how they transmit news.

BACKGROUND:
VOP is a Zimbabwe-based shortwave radio station. Its offices were bombed in
2002 (see IFEX alerts of 30 and 29 August 2002).

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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