Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – Civil and human rights groups in Zimbabwe have objected to the retention of several clauses in the revised Public Order and Security Bill. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee to determine its constitutionality, while the House will reconvene on 18 November 1997. The clauses infringe directly on the […]

Authorities in Zimbabwe have reportedly ordered the state-run media to place a “blackout” on news about the on-going country-wide strike by civil servants. According to MISA-Zimbabwe, it has noted distorted coverage in the official print media while there has been “a total blackout” on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) radio and television arms. (Civil servants […]

At the close of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) on Saturday, August 3, a mob comprising mainly University of Zimbabwe students “ransacked” a stand at which a group representing Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) exhibited its literature. A journalist who claims to have been present at the time and witnessed the incident, said, […]

Two Zimbabwean journalists say their lives have been threatened, and that there is plot — said to be hatched by people close to the government and ruling party — to kill media workers critical of President Robert Mugabe. The Reuters bureau chief in Zimbabwe, Chris Chinaka, says he was warned that he would be killed […]

The Director of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Posts and Telecommunications in Zimbabwe has confirmed that the government has assumed direct control of the country’s largest media group, the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT). Bornwell Chakaodza said that a 29 April 1996 amendment to the ZMMT’s deed gives the state the authority to oversee the […]

**Updates IFEX alerts dated 11, 3 August; 24, 16 July; and 16, 19 June 1995** The publisher and two senior editors of Zimbabwe’s leading independent newspaper, the “Financial Gazette”, have been fined. The South African Press Association reports that Magistrate William Cutler fined the owners of the “Gazette”, Modus Publications, Z$ 2500 (U$300). “Gazette” editor […]

**Updates IFEX alerts dated 3 August, 24 and 16 July, and 16 and 10 June 1995** The publisher, editor and deputy editor of Zimbabwe’s “Financial Gazette” have been found guilty of criminal defamation, and are now awaiting sentencing, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reports. Deputy editor Simba Makunike was found guilty of actual intent […]

**Updates IFEX alert dated 24 July, 10 and 16 June and 16 July 1995** Trevor Ncube, editor of the “Financial Gazette”, has named the person the journalist says fed his paper with information which resulted in Ncube, “Gazette” publisher Elias Rusike, and “Gazette” deputy-editor Simba Makunike being charged with criminal defamation. According to the South […]

An organization representing gays and lesbians has been barred from the Zimbabwe International Book Fair as a result of government pressure. Organizers of the fair on 29 August 1995 stopped Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) from running a stand at the fair, the theme of which is Human Rights and Freedom of Expression. Opening […]

**Updates IFEX alert dated 16 May 1995** The publisher and two editors of the weekly “Financial Gazette” are to stand trial on charges of criminal defamation on 5 July 1995. The charges relate to an article published by the newspaper in which it was alleged that President Robert Mugabe had married his secretary, Grace Marufu, […]