Victim/ Concerned Party

Violation/ Event/issue

Date

Status of matter

Willie Mponda, editor of the weekly community newspaper, The Sun.

Mponda pleads not guilty to publishing falsehoods in terms of Section 15 (1) (c) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

This followed the publication of a story on 10 June 2005 which alleged that a Gweru woman had committed suicide after her two telephone shops had been destroyed by the police at the height of the controversial clean-up operation, Operation Murambatsvina.

3 August 2005

The trial was adjourned to 11 August 2005 after charges had been read to Mponda.

Kelvin Jakachira, journalist with banned Daily News

Accused of practicing journalism without accreditation in terms of Section 83 (1) Chapter 10:27 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

4 August 2005

Trial postponed to 11 August at the request of his lawyer.

Hosea Chipanga, prominent Zimbabwe musician.

Accused and grilled by members of the Central Intelligence Organisation for allegedly singing that President Robert Mugabe would only vacate office upon his death.

5 August 2005

Chipanga confirmed that he had been questioned by the CIO. He was reportedly warned to refrain from singing anti-Mugabe songs.

Kelvin Jakachira, journalist with the banned Daily News.

Charged with practicing journalism without accreditation.

11 August 2005

Defence applies for his acquittal.

Ibbo Mandaza, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Mirror Newspapers Group.

The Zimbabwe Independent published a story on 12 August 2005 alleging that the Mirror Group was controlled by the Central Intelligence Organisation.

16 August 2005

Mandaza, in an interview with the SABC, denied any shareholding by the CIO in the Mirror Newspapers.

Kelvin Jakachira, journalist with the banned Daily News

Accused of practicing journalism without accreditation.

17 August 2005

Magistrate dismisses application for his dismissal.

Bornwell Chakaodza, former editor of the privately owned weekly Standard newspaper, reporter Valentine Maponga.

The pair were accused of publishing false statements prejudicial to the State under Section 15 (1) of POSA. This followed the publication of a story on 16 May 2005 which claimed that the family of the slain Trojan Nickel Mine boss, Leonard Chimimba had blamed some unnamed government officials for his death.

18 August 2005

The State dropped charges against Chakaodza and Maponga saying it would proceed by way of summons.

Kelvin Jakachira, journalist with the banned Daily News.

Charged under Section 83 (1) Chapter 10:27 of AIPPA which deals with practicing journalism without being accredited by the Media and Information Commission.

31 August 2005

Harare magistrate Prisca Chigumba acquits Jakachira saying he had complied with the application procedures and that the State’s evidence was vague and confused.