By Lance Guma
05 July 2005

Reporters without Borders, an international media pressure group, has appealed to Nelson Mandela to use his influence and end the onslaught on the media in Zimbabwe. The group has been shocked by new laws enacted by Mugabe that could jail journalists for up to twenty years under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, for publishing stories deemed false. They appealed to the former South African President to either put pressure on silent diplomat Thabo Mbeki, or speak to Mugabe himself.

A letter was sent to Mandela last weekend and Leonard Vincent, the Africa Desk Director, believes he is one of a few remaining icons with the influence to be taken seriously. Nelson Mandela himself spent over twenty-seven years in prison because of racist apartheid laws and Reporters Without Borders believe he is the ideal person to appreciate the threatened 20 year prison terms for Zimbabwean journalists.

Mr Vincent said they would not lecture Mandela on what to do but that theirs was an impassioned plea for him to air his views on the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. These views, the group hopes, will make South African President, Thabo Mbeki, take notice and drop his silent diplomacy.