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

17 March 2003

Publishing company executives arrested

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

(MISA/IFEX) - William Nyamangara, the managing director of Sovereign
Publishers, and another company executive, Mhlabene Bhebhe, were detained at
the Harare central police station on 11 March 2003, for allegedly printing
subversive materials.

The police raided the offices of Sovereign Publishers and confiscated
120,000 pamphlets belonging to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC). The content of the pamphlets could not be established.

Nyamangara told the media that his lawyer Linda Cook accompanied him to the
police station. "The police said the documents we were printing were
subversive and said we should accompany them to the Law and Order Section at
the Harare central police station, where they recorded statements from us,"
said Nyamangara.

After recording the statements the two were released. The police indicated
that they would proceed by way of summons.

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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