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Newsday journalist summoned to court
MISA-Zimbabwe
January 23, 2013

Newsday Features and Supplements editor Ropafadzo Mapimhidze has been summoned to appear at Masvingo magistrate court on 24 January 2013. This follows a complaint by Chief Nhema (Rangarirai Bwawanda) alleging that he was telephonically abused by Maphimhidze in contravention of section 88 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act. The law criminalises offensive or false telephone messages.

Section 88 states that any person who;

(a) sends by telephone any message that is grossly offensive or is of an indecent, obscene or threatening

character; or

(b) sends by telephone any message that he knows to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance,

inconvenience or needless anxiety to any other person; or

(c) makes any telephone call or series or combination of telephone calls without reasonable cause for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine . . . or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.)

Chief Nhema is basing his complaint on s.88 (c) of the Act.

Allegations are that some time last year Mapimhidze repeatedly phoned Chief Nhema while following up on leads to reports that he orchestrated political violence in his area.

MISA Zimbabwe will provide an update on the case as it unfolds.

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