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Daily News editors arrested
MISA-Zimbabwe
October 09, 2012

The editor of the Daily News Stanley Gama and his deputy Chris Goko were arrested and detained at Harare Central Police station on 8 October 2012 over a story alleging that the disappearance of businessman Munyaradzi Kereke's family was a hoax.

The two who spent four hours at the police station, were released after signing warned and cautioned statements in which they denied Kereke's criminal defamation charges.

They were arrested after the Daily News published an article which alleged that Kereke's report on his missing family was a plot used to deceive people in a bid to substantiate his claims that his life was in danger from a multiplicity of forces, including Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and unnamed security agents.

The story was reportedly lifted from the New Zimbabwe website. Kereke says the story is based on falsehoods and could jeopardise the manhunt for his wife, Joseline, and their four- year old daughter Tashinga. He is claiming $25 million in a criminal defamation lawsuit.

Kareke further alleges that the Daily News defamed him by publishing a story alleging that he raped a minor saying the publication had put on "legal tenterhooks".

MISA-Zimbabwe position

The arrests of the two journalists proves the criminalisation of journalism in Zimbabwe under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and vindicates MISA-Zimbabwe's strident calls for the repealing of the law which infringes on media freedom.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is also on record urging members states, Zimbabwe included, to do away with criminal defamation laws saying such laws tend to curb citizens fundamental right to freely communicate.

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