Government issues travel ban list of Zimbabweans

By Violet Gonda
07 December 2005

In 2002 the Zimbabwean government made a sanctions list of people banned from the country. This list included Tony Blair and 7 journalists working at SW Radio Africa. Now the government has a new list of people who are banned from travelling outside the country.

The online website NewZimbabwe.com reported Tuesday that the government has included 15 names of opposition officials, businessmen and journalists. They will be the first to face such an order as a result of an amendment made to the Zimbabwe constitution in September.
On the list are people perceived to be critics of the Mugabe regime and those viewed as threats to the country's "national interest".

According to New Zimbabwe.com the list includes National Constitution Assembly Chairman Dr Lovemore Madhuku, Human Rights Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, Journalist Bassildon Peta and MDC politicians Paul Temba Nyathi and Grace Kwinjeh.

The amendment of the constitution allows the government to restrict the right to freedom of movement to perceived saboteurs, by denying a passport to a Zimbabwean wishing to travel outside the country.
It’s been difficult to verify this information with government authorities who refused to talk to us but New Zimbabwe.com claims immigration sources have said a memo has been sent to all exit points and border posts for immigration officials to seize the passports of the people on the travel ban list.
Following the constitutional amendment, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told journalists: "There are people who gallivant across the globe calling for sanctions against the country. Those are the ones we are targeting. I don't want to mention names because they know themselves. If you are one of them, you are in for it."

Speaking on SW Radio Africa, Dr Madhuku said he was not aware of this and said it would be hopelessly unlawful, “The only thing I know is that when the amendment no17 to the constitution was being made there was this talk that the government would implement it by imposing a travel ban but we have not been appraised of these kind of developments.”

The activists said even if the ban has been implemented this is not going to stop the work of the NCA. “Whatever they do it is not going to stop us short of obviously killing us. Of course those who remain will still fight for a new constitution.”

Kwinjeh, who is the MDC representative in Brussels responded by saying, “It’s unfortunate, if the report is true because what Zimbabweans are looking for today is not increased repression from the ZANU PF regime. I think Zimbabweans are looking for solutions to the crisis that is in the country.”