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African
Commission condemns Zimbabwe
MISA-Zimbabwe
January 09, 2006
The government
is reportedly reviewing the Access to Information and Protection
of Privacy Act (AIPPA) in the wake of intense criticism and condemnation
against Zimbabwe’s dented human rights record.
This comes hard
on the heels of a damning report by the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) which expressed concern over the suppression
of fundamental rights and liberties through laws such as AIPPA,
Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Broadcasting Services
Act (BSA).
During its 38th
Ordinary Session in Banjul in December the Commission also ruled
as admissible the case of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe
challenging the Supreme Court’s decision in September 2003 during
which it ruled that the publishing company was operating illegally.
ANZ are the
publishers of the Daily News and Daily News on Sunday.
It is against
that background that the director of the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s
office Loice Matanda-Moyo, advised the Commission that the Minister
of Information and Publicity Dr Tichaona Jokonya, was in the process
of reviewing the entire contents of AIPPA with a view to removing
offending provisions in the Act.
The Commission
also urged the government to amend or repeal Constitutional Amendment
No 17 which among other draconian measures empowers the government
to withdraw the passports of citizens who undermine " national
interests" during their visits abroad.
The Amendment
also bars the right to seek redress in the courts under the government’s
compulsory land acquisition policy.
The Commission
said the government should also implement its 2002 fact-finding
mission recommendations to disband the activities of certain units
within the police force such as the Law and Order unit which seem
to operate without accountability to lawful command structures.
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fact sheet
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