New York, April 16, 2008— In response to news reports that two foreign nationals in Zimbabwe were acquitted today by the magistrate Central Harare Court, the Committee to Protect Journalists released the following statement:
“We applaud the decision to acquit New York Times journalist Barry Bearak and a British national accused of practicing journalism without accreditation,” CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes said. “Zimbabwe’s accreditation law had been used to censor the press. We call on authorities to allow all journalists to do their jobs covering the important developments in Zimbabwe without harassment and intimidation.”