|
Victim/
Concerned Party
|
Violation/
Event/issue
|
Date
|
Status
of matter
|
|
SABC crew
|
SABC crew
barred from a press briefing during which Finance Minister
Herbert Murerwa was discussing the outcome of an IMF team’s
visit to Zimbabwe.
Brian
Hungwe, the SABC correspondent in Zimbabwe, said the minister
had told him that he was not willing to discuss issues with
foreign journalists because of their alleged hostility to
Zimbabwe.
|
2 February
2006
|
The minister,
however, later granted the SABC an interview following his
initial reluctance to host the news crew.
|
|
General
Laws Amendment Act
|
The Act,
which tightens the presidential insult laws and communication
of falsehoods under the Public
Order, and Security Act (POSA), is signed into law by
Acting President Joice Mujuru.
|
3 February
2006
|
The amendments
increase the fine imposed under Section 16 of POSA which deals
with undermining the authority of the President from Z$20
000 to Z$2 million or one imprisonment or both such fine or
imprisonment.
Those
convicted under Section 15 of POSA which deals with the publishing
or communication statements prejudicial to the state, are
now liable to a fine of Z$10 million or five years imprisonment
– up from Z$100 000.
|
|
Associated
Newspapers of Zimbabwe, publishers of the closed Daily News
and Daily News on Sunday.
|
High Court
judge Justice Rita Makarau quashed the government-controlled
Media and Information Commission’s (MIC) refusal to grant
ANZ an operating licence and ruled that the application for
registration should be considered afresh.
|
9 February
2006
|
The MIC
was still to decide on the matter as of February 2006.
|
|
VOP Radio
Station board members
|
A Harare
magistrate relaxed the reporting conditions against David
Masunda, VOP chairman, his deputy Arnold Tsunga, and board
members Lawrence Chibwe, Nhlanhla Ngwenya and Millie Phiri.
|
10 February
2006
|
The VOP
bosses are on remand accused of operating a radio station
without a licence in terms of the Broadcasting
Services Act (BSA).
|
|
VOP Radio
Station.
|
VOP Radio
directors filed an application for refusal of further remand.
|
28 February
2006
|
The directors,
who are represented by Beatrice Mtetwa, are arguing that the
facts placed before the courts do not constitute an offence.
A ruling
was expected to be made on 1 March 2006.
|
