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Journalist, Stanley Karombo removed from remand
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
May 21, 2003

Stanley Karombo a Freelance journalist based in the city of Mutare was yesterday, 20 May, removed from remand by the magistrates’ courts. Karombo was arrested on 20 March on charges of having violated the provisions of Section 83 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which prohibits anyone from practicing as a journalist without accreditation.

Karombo’s lawyer argued that the section under which he was being charged was already being challenged in the Supreme Court. The court was provided with copies of the application by the Independent Journalist Association of Zimbabwe (IJAZ), which case challenged a host of other sections among them section 83. The court was informed that the case was simply awaiting judgment, having been heard in October 2002. Karombo’s lawyer said that he is hopeful that the Supreme Court would find in favor of the application and strike off the section. An application by the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) was also produced which is also challenging section 83 among other sections. The ANZ matter is set to be heard on 3 June 2003.

In support of his arguments Karombo’s lawyer also produced a copy of the court record in the case of Lloyd Mudiwa vs. the State were in an application of similar nature the Harare Magistrates Court found it proper to remove Mudiwa from remand. Mudiwa and his co accused, former Daily News editor in Chief, Geoff Nyarota went on to challenge successfully section 80 of AIPPA, under which they were being charged.

The defence lawyers said that he was prepared to fight any attempt to try to put Karombo on trial on a section he said is unconstitutional. The State indicated that it was not opposed to the application. Karombo’s matter will therefore wait for the Supreme Court judgments in the matters mentioned above.

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