Editors arrested and released on bail,faces 20 years in prison

(MISA/IFEX) - On 30 November 2010, Nevanji Madanhire, editor of "The Standard" weekly newspaper, was arrested and charged with breaching Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which deals with the publication of falsehoods prejudicial to the state. He appeared in court on 1 December and was granted bail of US$100. 

Madanhire was detained overnight at Rhodesville Police Station in Harare. The offence carries a 20-year prison term or the option of a fine. The charges arise from a story written by journalist Nqobani Ndlovu about the postponement of police promotional examinations. Ndlovu is facing similar charges. 

Harare magistrate Svodai Kadirire remanded Madanhire to 16 December and ordered him not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at his usual address in Harare. 

MISA-Zimbabwe Chairperson Loughty Dube condemned the continued harassment of journalists. "We want journalists to be allowed to go about their work without being harassed and intimidated, and we call upon the police to allow journalists to go about their work without fear," he said. 

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) president Dumisani Sibanda said the police is a state institution which should be prepared to face public scrutiny of its activities. "We journalists are the watchdogs of society and we will not be deterred. Journalists should continue to carry out their professional duties, without fear or favour," said Sibanda. 

"Police should concentrate on fighting crime and arresting criminals instead of following professionals doing their duties. We will not be intimidated and we will continue to expose social ills."

BACKGROUND:

The charges against Madanhire relate to a story authored by Ndlovu, of "The Standard", on the postponement of police promotional examinations. Ndlovu was arrested on 17 November and released on 26 November after spending nine days at Khami Remand Prison on the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. 

Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act pertains to the publishing or communication of false statements prejudicial to the state and carries a maximum 20-year prison term or the option of a fine. 

On 26 November, Zimbabwean journalists and representative media organisations petitioned Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai expressing grave concern over the increase in the number of cases involving the arrests and harassment of journalists. 


Source IFEX/MISA

Media organisations and journalists petition prime minister over harassment, arrests of journalists

(MISA/IFEX) - On 26 November 2010, Zimbabwean journalists and representative media organisations petitioned Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, expressing grave concern over the increase in the number of cases involving arrests and harassment of journalists.

The petition, signed by more than 100 journalists and media practitioners, was also copied to South African President Jacob Zuma in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) appointed mediator to Zimbabwe. Zuma was expected in Harare on the same day for meetings with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and his deputy, Professor Arthur Mutambara.

Noting the continued intimidation and harassment of journalists, the petitioners said the government should take all necessary steps to ensure the "cessation of all harassment, intimidation, illegal detention and criminalisation of the work of journalists, media practitioners and media houses".

This is especially urgent given the detention of "The Standard" journalist Nqobani Ndlovu in Khami Prison. This development came alongside the arrests of freelance journalists Andrison Manyere and Nkosana Dhlamini on 30 October while covering the constitution making process in Harare.

Ndlovu, who was arrested on 17 November, was released on 26 November after the High Court in Bulawayo decided against the state's appeal for his continued detention.

The petition, which was drawn under the auspices of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ), was presented to Prime Minister Tsvangirai in Harare on behalf of MAZ by MISA-Zimbabwe Advocacy Committee Chairperson Kumbirai Mafunda, Committee Member Stanley Kwenda and Advocacy Officer Tabani Moyo.

MAZ comprises MISA-Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), the Federation of African Media Women in Zimbabwe (FAMWZ), the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef) and the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ).

Urging the inclusive government to fulfil its commitments to media reforms, the petitioners, among other issues, called for the reconstitution of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) in terms of the amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and:

"To actively pursue the need to transform the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation into a truly independent public service broadcaster, that is free from undue political or editorial interference.

"To actively monitor the state-controlled print media to ensure equal, equitable and fair coverage of all political views to enable citizens access to diverse views and opinions."

The petition was also copied to SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salamao, Speaker of Parliament the Honourable Lovemore Moyo, Senate President the Honourable Edna Madzongwe, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, and the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Nelson Chamisa, among others.

The petition is a reaction by the media to, among other cases, the recent arrest and detention of Ndlovu in Bulawayo on 17 November. Ndlovu was initially being charged with contravening Section 96 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. However, he now faces an additional charge in terms of Section 31 of the same Act.

The charges arise from a story written by Ndlovu in "The Standard" of 14 November, alleging that police promotional examinations were being scrapped to facilitate the absorption of war veterans and retired police officers into the police force ahead of the 2011 elections.

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa

To download petition goto : http://www.ifex.org/zimbabwe/2010/11/30/zimbabwe_petition.pdf