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Journalist
and foreigners charged under new media law
Media Institute
of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
January 27, 2003
Update
Fanuel Jongwe a senior journalist
with the Daily News, and five foreigners working for a humanitarian
church organisation have been charged under the Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Jongwe was charged under section 79
of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Section
79 prohibits any journalist from practising without an accreditation
license granted by the Media and Information Commission. The five
foreigners who are nationals of the United State of America, Kenya,
Finland and two Germans are being accused of having practised journalism
without licenses. They have been charged under section 72 of the
same law. Section 72 prohibits the running of any media service
without a license. The foreigners are working for the World Lutheran
Foundation, a Christian humanitarian organisation. The lawyer (who
refused to be named) says her clients will appear in court tomorrow.
She also says that they will be out of police custody till tomorrow.
Earlier information..
Fanuel Jongwe a senior journalist
with the Daily News was arrested on Friday 24 January together with
five foreigners in the mining town of Zvishavane. The group was
charged for practising journalism without licences.
The police say that the foreigners
are journalists who came into the country under false identification.
Speaking to MISA-Zimbabwe on Monday 27 January, Police spokesperson,
Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said that the police have
established that the foreigners are journalists. The lawyer representing
Jongwe and the foreigners told MISA-Zimbabwe by phone from Zvishavane
that the Jongwe and the five foreigners have been charged under
section 72 (1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy
Act. Section 72 prohibits the practice of journalism or operating
a media service without a license granted by a government appointed
Media and Information Commission.
Bvudzijena told Reuters at the weekend
that the group was not arrested but only confined to the hotel to
facilitate investigations. On Saturday, Bvudzijena also said that
the five foreigners are likely to be charged under the Public Order
and Security Act (POSA) for having entered the country under false
pretence. He added that Jongwe would be charged for having aided
in the contravention of national laws. The five foreigners are nationals
of the United States of America, Kenya, Finland and two are from
Germany.
Jongwe was in the company of five foreigners
who work for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Christian development
organisation. He had been invited by the organisation to cover the
trip to areas they are operating in. He told the Daily News that
their ordeal started around 10 am when they had just checked in
at the Hotel Nilton. He said that police officers came to the hotel
and accused them of having come to the town on a political mission.
The police officers ordered the delegation not to leave the hotel.
A computer laptop, cameras, notebooks and literature was taken away
by the police. The police took the group to the Zvishavane police
station were they questioned them until just before midnight on
Friday. On Saturday the group returned to the police station for
further questioning.
The LWF office in Harare said that
the group was touring projects being run by the foundation in preparation
for a 10th summit to be held in Canada. The group is
also scheduled to visit other countries such as Malawi.
For more information:
Rashweat
Mukundu Research and Information Officer MISA-Zimbabwe
E mail:
misa@mweb.co.zw
Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe
fact sheet
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