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Government
seizes publisher's passport
MISA-Zimbabwe
December 09, 2005
Immigration
seized Zimbabwe Independent and Standard newspapers chairman Trevor
Ncube passport upon his arrival in the country from South Africa
where he also the publisher of the Mail and Guardian.
Ncube said he
had been approached by a person who identified himself as being
from the President’s Office. The man escorted Ncube to the immigration
department at Harare International Airport. The publisher’s passport
was confiscated on 8 December 2005.
"They said
I was one of the people on a list of 64 persons whose passports
must be impounded," he said in interview with the weekly Zimbabwe
Independent on 9 December 2005.
The controversial
Constitutional Amendment (No 17) Amendment Act empowers the government
to seize the passports of citizens suspected of "national interests"
during their travels abroad. MISA-Zimbabwe Chairperson Thomas Deve
condemned the seizure of Ncube’s passport saying this move is undemocratic
and a threat to the individual rights of Trevor Ncube. Deve added
no Zimbabwean should be victimised for holding views that might
be seen as contrary to the present government.
The incident
comes hard on the heels of reports that the ruling Zanu PF central
committee had urged the government to take stern measures against
non-governmental organisations and civic groups perceived to be
working with the opposition MDC.
In its report
set to be tabled at ZANU PF’s annual conference, the central committee
singled out pressures groups such as the National Constitutional
Assembly and Women of Zimbabwe Arise and the Department of International
Development as some of the organisations that should be dealt with.
In an ironic
twist of events, the Australian government included Ncube among
businesspersons it recently placed on its targeted sanctions because
of their alleged association or links with the Zanu PF government.
The Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe has, however, indicated that
this list is being looked into with a view to correct anomalies
found.
Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe
fact sheet
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