Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Kwelaz community radio board member and volunteer appear in court
MISA-Zimbabwe
July 30, 2013

Kwelaz community radio board member Eric Musesengwe and volunteer staffer Annie Maseko appeared in court on 30 July 2013 charged with breaching section 7 of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and s.78(2) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) respectively.

Section 78 of AIPPA criminalises the practice of journalism without accreditation, while section 7 of the BSA outlaws the aspect of broadcasting without a license.

The duo was granted bail in the sum of $100 each and remanded to 15 August 2013.

Background

These charges emanate from the earlier arrest and detention of citizen journalist Annie Maseko on 26 July 2011 by members of Kwekwe CID law and Order section, after the former was found interviewing locals on their perception of the environment leading to the elections. The police then proceeded to Radio Kwelaz offices where they took a number of pre-recorded CD’s that the community radio produces for distribution among its membership.

Maseko was detained for three hours and only released on condition that she together with the community radio’s board members present themselves to the CID, Law and Order section on the morning of 28 July
2013.

Meanwhile the police continue to hold on to the CD’s that they took from the community radio as well a recorder which Maseko was using, indicating that they want to listen and establish what the contents are all about.

MISA-Zimbabwe will keep you updated on the development of this case as it unfolds.

Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP