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Zimbabwean freedom of expression situation worries Africa
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 15, 2007

African NGOs have called upon the Zimbabwean government to desist from the wanton arrests, harassment and torture of journalists.

The call was made in a resolution adopted at the end of a three-day Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights which was held in Accra, Ghana from 12 to 14 May 2007.

During the Forum, African NGOs expressed concern over the situation of journalists and freedom of expression activists in Africa especially in Zimbabwe, Eritrea, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Somalia and called upon these and various other African states to respect provisions of the African Charter, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa and their various constitutions on the right to freedom of expression.

On Zimbabwe, the Forum also called upon the government to fully and thoroughly investigate all outstanding issues.

"We call upon the government of Zimbabwe to thoroughly investigate all outstanding issues including the bombings of the Daily News printing press and Offices of the Voice of the People Trust as well as the abduction and murder of freelance cameraperson Edward Chikomba," said the Forum.

The Forum said the government should urgently repeal laws which hinder the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA).

MISA-Zimbabwe Legal Officer Wilbert Mandinde was among the various representatives of NGOs from African States and Commissioners from the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights who attended the Forum. Zimbabwe had a strong civic society representation at the Forum comprising delegates from about 10 civic society organisations.

The resolutions are now expected to be forwarded to the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights' 41st Ordinary Sessions which begins in Accra on 16 May 2007.

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