Lawyer to fight for the return of deported journalist

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

**Updates IFEX alerts of 16 and 9 May 2003**

(MISA/IFEX) - Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer representing "Guardian"
correspondent Andrew Meldrum, has said that she will petition the High Court
to compel the government to bring her client back.

Mtetwa says that she will petition so that a High Court order granted by
Justice Hungwe on 16 May 2003 barring the deportation of Meldrum is
honoured. "The court directed that he should be brought back and I am still
pursuing that," said Mtetwa.

"The government officials are in contempt (of court) until they bring
Meldrum back and they should go to jail if they don't respect the court,"
said Mtetwa.

On 20 May, "The Daily News" reported that Chief Immigration Officer Elasto
Mugwadi sought advice from Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge and Vice President
Simon Muzenda on what to do after the High Court had barred Meldrum's
deportation. The paper, quoting unnamed government officials, said that
Mudenge was against the deportation, arguing that it would tarnish
Zimbabwe's image. The paper says, however, that Vice President Muzenda was
for Meldrum's deportation. No independent verification of these claims was
possible at the time of writing this alert.

BACKGROUND:
On 16 May, Zimbabwean immigration officials deported Meldrum, Zimbabwe
correspondent for the U.K.-based "Guardian" newspaper, from the country.

Officials at Harare Airport forced Meldrum onto a London-bound Air Zimbabwe
flight, ignoring a High Court order staying the reporter's deportation and
instructing authorities to produce Meldrum for a court hearing on his
expulsion. Meldrum was accused of being an "undesirable inhabitant" of
Zimbabwe in reprisal for his critical reporting on the government.

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 update is the sole responsibility of
MISA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MISA.
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