At a glance-
MISA Zimbabwe State of the Media Report 2018
In his inauguration speech on 24 November 2017 following Mugabe’s ouster, President Mnangagwa, said he would strengthen and ensure the pillars of democracy are respected in Zimbabwe. This raised hope that he would move with speed and implement outstanding socio-economic and political reforms ahead of the 2018 elections. It is common cause that the elections came without implementation of the envisaged reforms.
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MISA Annual Report 2018
The MISA Annual report for 2018 focuses on the lobby and advocacy work MISA carried out on critical issues throughout 2018.
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ZIMBABWE TRANSPARENCY ASSESSMENT 2018
The Citizens' Analysis of Government Openness
9 February 1999
Alert
RSF protests deteriorating press freedom situation
Incident details
other(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is protesting the serious deterioration of press
freedom in Zimbabwe. According to RSF's information, on 8 February 1999,
four journalists were arrested by detectives in Harare. Grace Kwinjeh, a
reporter with the independent weekly "Mirror", was arrested in
connection with an article she wrote on October 1998 about the
involvement of Zimbabwean troops in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. She reported that the family of a dead soldier had received only
their son's head when his remains were returned to them for burial. The
same day, the "Mirror"'s news editor Fernando Goncalves, publisher Ibbo
Mandaza and another contributor to the weekly, Farai Mungazi, were also
arrested and questioned about the same article. Later in the day,
Goncalves and Mungazi were released.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January,
27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January
and 13 January 1999**
Earlier, on 5 January, in "The Herald" newspaper, Minister of
Information Chen Chimutengwende stated his intention to reform the laws
governing the independent press. He said he wanted to "prohibit national
newspapers from receiving foreign donations," "change legislation on the
press" and "reinforce legislation about slander." The statements came in
the midst of a tense context, after a series of recent cases of torture
and illegal arrests of journalists. President Mugabe expressed deep
concern regarding what he qualified as "acts of sabotage."
RSF is worried about growing tension between the independent press and
the government, and fears that such statements may further damage the
current climate.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
the three journalists
their right to inform as guaranteed in many international treaties
ratified by Zimbabwe
who tortured journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto on 19 January.
The two "Sunday Standard" journalists were tortured by army members at
Cranborne military barracks, in connection with an article published in
the newspaper on 10 January
Appeals To
His Excellency Robert Mugabe
President of the Republic
Office of the President
Private Bag 7700, Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 708 557
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source
Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Fax:+33 1 45 23 11 51
- Most covered free expression issues in this country