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Former political detainees threaten vendors
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 28, 2012

Members of the Zimbabwe Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainnes and Restrictees' Association (Zeppdra) on 27 May 2012 threatened to attack vendors selling privately-owned newspapers unless the publications give positive coverage to President Robert Mugabe.

Percy Kuzvinzwa, chairperson of the association's Harare provincial leadership, said they had given Newsday and the Daily News a month's notice for the publications to cover President Mugabe positively. Kuzvinzwa accused the newspapers of demonising President Mugabe. "If they continue (demonising President Mugabe), we will attack their vendors in the streets," he said.

Raphael Khumalo chief executive officer of Alpha Media Holdings, publishers of Newsday, said the company would not be discouraged by a few misguided individuals seeking relevance and space in the feeding trough.

Khumalo said democracy is about freedom of expression, freedom of choice and freedom of assembly. He urged the ex-detainees to join prodemocracy groups instead of blocking the country's democratic space.

Background

Suspected ZANU PF supporters have reportedly banned the circulation of the two papers in outlying parts of the country. On 22 May 2012 rowdy soldiers threatened to beat up Newsday vendors at Gokwe business centre.

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