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ZimInd editors to stand trial
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 28, 2009

Harare Magistrate, Catherine Chimanda on 28 May 2009 ruled that editors of the Zimbabwe Independent, Vincent Kahiya and Constantine Chimakure, appear for trial on 16 June 2009.

The two are charged under Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalizes the communication of statements that are likely to undermine public confidence in the law enforcement agents.

The two who were represented by lawyer Innocent Chagonda, successfully had their bail conditions removed. They are no longer required to report to the Police' Law and Order section every Friday as had previously been ruled. State Prosecutor, Moses Musendo did not oppose the removal of reporting bail conditions but argued that the State had managed to prove a case against the two, which justified them standing trial.

Background

The two face charges of publishing or communicating a statement wholly or with the intention of undermining public confidence in law enforcement agents, under Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The charges arise from a story published in this week's publication titled, CIO, police role in activists' abduction revealed. The story states that notices of indictment for trial in the High Court which begins 29 June 2009, served on some of the activists last week revealed that the activists were either in the custody of the CIO or police during the period they were reported missing.

Kahiya and Chimakure published a story naming members of the Central Intelligence Organisation and police who were allegedly involved in the abductions of human rights and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists, amongst them freelance journalist Shadreck Andrisson Manyere last year.

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