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Stop the closure, free the directors of the "Daily News"
Zimbabwe Netzwerk e.V.
September 24, 2003

Bielefeld - The Zimbabwe Netzwerk in Germany is a non-governmental organisation which was founded after Zimbabwe's Independence in 1982 to support and inform about the development of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.

With much concern we have learned about forced closure of the "Daily News" newspaper in Harare. In our opinion this police action represents a new stage in the increasing violation of media and human rights in Zimbabwe. For the democratic society of Zimbabwe as well as for the international community the closure of the last independent daily newspaper in Zimbabwe it is a very great step back. Without independent and unrepressed media there can be no open public discussion about the present and future of the country.

We therefore fully support the demonstrations and protest statements issued by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the Zimbabwe Human rights NGO Forum and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human rights.

We sincerely hope that the draconian and repressive press laws that put a shame on Zimbabwean democracy and its government will be repealed as soon as possible. It is also our hope that the Zimbabwean and international civil society will be strong enough to stop this undemocratic practice.
For us the right of press freedom is one of the fundamental human rights.

Sincerely
For the board of the Zimbabwe Netzwerk e.V. Germany

Christoph Beninde

Zimbabwe Netzwerk e.V.
c/o WELTHAUS Bielefeld
August - Bebel- Str. 62
Germany
D - 33602 Bielefeld
Tel: 0049 (0)521/ 98648-52;
Fax: 0049 (0)521/ 63789
e-mail: zimbabwenetzwerk@aol.com
Website: www.zimbabwenetzwerk.de

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