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The illegal deportation of Andrew Meldrum
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
May 19, 2003

MISA-Zimbabwe expresses its concern and disgust over the treatment of Andrew Meldrum a correspondent for the Guardian and a permanent resident of Zimbabwe.

The illegal deportation of Andrew Meldrum, done against two High Court orders barring his deportation clearly demonstrates the extent of the erosion of the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Despite orders by High Court Judge, Charles Hungwe, that Meldrum be presented to the court on Friday by 3:30 pm the Immigration officers, working in collusion with the police and intelligence agents forcibly deported Meldrum. The latest incident comes against a background of similar illegal acts by the immigration officers and the police in their treatment of local and foreign journalists.

Whereas many journalists have been arrested in the past on the basis of breaking a host of anti media freedom and anti freedom of expression laws, the Meldrum incident shows the extent to which the government is prepared to break its own laws and ride roughshod over the judiciary. MISA-Zimbabwe notes with concern the manner in which the police manhandle journalists in the course of arrest or deportation as they did with Meldrum. Such use of force was witnessed in the case of Daily News Photographer Philemon Bulawayo and lawyer Gugulethu Moyo. The disregard of a High Court judgement by the police has a chilling effect on all journalists as it effectively closes any recourse to the courts.

MISA-Zimbabwe calls upon state security agents, the police and other civil servants who have the interests of Zimbabwe at heart to refrain from participating in illegal acts. It is such incidences, without doubt, that damage further Zimbabwe's already tattered image.

May 20, 2003 Alert update

Lawyer to fight for the return of deported journalist

Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer representing Andrew Meldrum a correspondent for the Guardian has said that she will petition the High Court to compel the government to bring her client back.

Mtetwa says that she will petition the high court so that a High Court order granted by Justice Hungwe on 16 May, barring the deportation of Meldrum is honoured.

"The court directed that he should be brought back and I am still pursuing that", said Mtetwa.

"They 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.

Meanwhile the Daily News (20 May 2003) reports that the Chief Immigration Officer, Elasto Mugwadi sought advise from the Foreign Minister, Stan Mudenge and Vice President Simon Muzenda on what to do after the High Court had barred the deportation of Meldrum. The paper, quoting unnamed government officials, said that Mudenge was against the deportation of Meldrum arguing that it would tarnish Zimbabwe's image. The paper says that Vice President Muzenda was however for the deportation of Meldrum. No independent verification of these claims was possible at the writing of this alert.

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