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ANZ files application
MISA-Zimbabwe
February 18, 2008

Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) publishers of the banned Daily News and Daily News on Sunday have filed a fresh application with the state-controlled Media and Information Confirmation (MIC) in their protracted battle to be registered to operate in terms of the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

The fresh application was filed on 14 February 2008 raising hope for the return of the two publications that have been out of circulation since September 2003 following the Supreme Court's "dirty hands" judgment in which it ruled that ANZ was operating illegally as it was not registered with the MIC in terms of AIPPA.

John Gambanga, ANZ chief executive officer, expressed confidence that they would be granted an operating licence by the end of March this year. "I am confident that we will be registered. I see no reason why we should be denied the licence," said Gambanga.

Gambanga told The Standard weekly newspaper that he had a "long chat" with Chinondidyachii Mararike, the chairman of the special committee that will consider the ANZ application and had been assured that past events would not influence the committee's decision in the matter.

Mararike is on record saying: "We are there to enable. We reaffirm our commitment to act in a very balanced and impartial manner. Our processes are not at all pre-determined. We consider the application as it comes and there is a checklist of things that have to be fulfilled."

The special committee was constituted after court findings on the bias of MIC executive chairman Dr Tafataona Mahoso against ANZ. Dr Mahoso is recused from the adjudication of the ANZ application.

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