Back to Index

ANZ directors back in court
MISA-Zimbabwe
June 10, 2004

Four directors of The Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publishers of the banned Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, 9 June, to charges of publishing without a licence.

The four face charges under section 66 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, (AIPPA), for publishing without a license from the government appointed Media and Information Commission. The state contends that ANZ directors, Samuel Nkomo and directors Rachel Kupara, Michael Mattinson and Brian Mutsau published The Daily News illegally on 24 October, six weeks after it was shut down. The comeback edition was published a day after the administrative court ruled that the Media and Information Commission (MIC) had erred in denying the ANZ a licence when it applied for one in September 2003.

MIC executive chairperson, Dr Tafataona Mahoso testified that the newspaper editors misinterpreted the court ruling and should have waited before restarting publication of the newspaper. The Administrative court had on 23 October 2003 ordered that the ANZ be granted a licence by November 30. Resuming publication immediately was "the accused's interpretation" of the judgment, said Tafataona Mahoso.

"Following the judgment of 23 October 2003, it (the paper) should have waited until after the 30th of November," he contended. "In my understanding, the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe was publishing outside the law," said Mahoso.

If convicted, ANZ directors could each be fined Z$300 000 or be sentenced to two years in prison. The trial continues on 10 June.

Visit the MISA -Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP