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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles on enforced disappearances in Zimbabwe
Three
journalists arrested, held overnight then freed on bail
Reporters
Sans Frontiers
May 14, 2009
Reporters Without Borders
condemns a police raid on the Harare headquarters of the Zimbabwe
Independent newspaper on 9 May and the arrests of its director,
editor and news editor two days later. The three journalists were
freed on bail after being held for 24 hours.
"Zimbabwean journalists continue to be the victims of police
brutality and judicial abuses," Reporters Without Borders
said. "By arresting journalists arbitrarily and then conditioning
their release on the payment of bail, the police and courts are
subjecting the media to a systematic extortion racket. We again
appeal to the authorities to stop these practices."
In a report issued for World Press Freedom Day on 3
May, Reporters Without Borders said: "The year 2009 has
given rise to new hopes for press freedom in Zimbabwe. After several
years of brutal repression orchestrated by Robert Mugabe, the new
government of national unity, led by former political opponent Morgan
Tsvangirai, has the opportunity, if the head of state allows him
the time and the means, to finally allow the media to grow again
from the ashes."
The report added: "The urgent task ahead is for an easing
of laws and encouragement to the independent press, previously one
of Africa's most vigorous, to get back on its feet again."
Zimbabwe Independent director Mike Curling, editor Vincent Kahiya
and news editor Constantine Chimakure were freed on 12 May after
paying bail of 200 US dollars (146 euros). They had all been summoned
the previous day to Harare central police station and arrested on
a charge of publishing "falsehoods prejudicial to the state"
under section 31a of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges were prompted by an 8 May article that named the state
security agents responsible for the abduction of some 30 opposition
activists and journalists, including Jestina Mukoko, from October
to December of last year.
Police officers had initially gone to the newspaper's office
in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the journalists on 9 May, as
a seminar was being held in Harare at the government's request
on the need to ease Zimbabwe's draconian press laws.
Meanwhile, a court yesterday ordered the release of freelance press
photographer Shadreck Anderson Manyere, who had been re-arrested
by police in Harare on 5 May. Manyere was previously held for four
months before been freed on bail on 18 April.
More information
about Manyere here
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