Zimbabwe / Africa

Namibian journalists worry that President Nujoma is tightening his grip on the media.

In the months following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, journalists around the world confronted an unprecedented press freedom crisis.

New York, August 29, 2002—Unknown persons bombed the offices of the Voice of the People (VOP) Communications Trust yesterday morning. The private news production company, which has been producing shows since June 2000, was housed in a suburb of the capital city, Harare. The explosion is the fourth such attack on the independent media in…

Amid repeated threats of imprisonment, a Zimbabwean journalist tells of his time behind bars.

Twilight of a Despot: A documented record of the assault on press freedom in Zimbabwe, 1999 to the present.

New York, July 25, 2002—Zimbabwe’s Daily News editor-in-chief Geoff Nyarota and reporter Lloyd Mudiwa, who are charged with “abusing journalistic privilege” and “publishing false information,” have successfully petitioned a magistrate’s court in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, to have their case referred to the country’s Supreme Court. . Magistrate Sandra Nhau granted a motion from defense lawyers…

New York, July 22, 2002—The attorney representing three journalists from Zimbabwe’s Daily News who went on trial today for violating the country’s harsh press laws asked that the case be referred to the Supreme Court, claiming that the section of the law under which the journalists have been charged is unconstitutional. A ruling is expected…

New York, July 17, 2002—Zimbabwe’s High Court has suspended government orders to deport Andrew Meldrum, a U.S. citizen and the Zimbabwe correspondent for the British Guardian newspaper, and referred the case to the Supreme Court. Meldrum was served with two deportation orders on July 15, just minutes after being acquitted of “publishing false information” and…

New York, July 15, 2002—Andrew Meldrum, the Zimbabwe correspondent for the British Guardian newspaper, was today acquitted of “publishing false information” and “abusing journalistic privileges.” However, Meldrum, the first journalist to be tried under Zimbabwe’s repressive new media laws, was ordered to leave the country within 24 hours. Meldrum, a U.S. citizen who has been…

Zimbabwean journalists arrested and charged since Mugabe’s re-election on March 15 Name Date of arrest Charges Action Article or issue leading to charges Peta Thornycroft Mail and Guardian (South Africa); Daily Telegraph (UK) March 27 Public Order and Security Act (POSA) Released without charge, March 31 Investigating reports that supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party…