Farcical start to VOP trial

By Tererai Karimakwenda
28 February 2006

Tuesday was the first day of trial for the six directors of Voice of the People radio, and by most accounts, the proceedings seemed like a joke. The VOP directors were on trial at the Harare Magistrates Court, charged with contravening sections of the draconian Broadcasting Act. The state claims the 6 directors are guilty of running a station that is broadcasting without a license. And yet, as the only 2 witnesses called today testified, VOP does not and cannot broadcast from Zimbabwe because they do not have a transmitter or a booster. In other words, the state’s witness agreed with the defense.
Those facing charges are David Masunda, Arnold Tsumba, Lawrence Chibwe, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Millie Phiri and Isabella Matambanadzo. The Penalty for breaching the Broadcasting Act can be $5 million dollar or a two years in jail. The directors were arrested after police used illegal tactics to force them to turn themselves in. First, they raided the VOP offices in Harare and arrested reporters Maria Nyanyiwa, Takunda Chigwanda and Nyasha Bosha. Then they returned on December 15 and arrested other staff members. They were all later released without charge after the directors reported to police.
Itai Zimunya of The Crisis Coalition was in the magistrate court on Tuesday for the first day of trial. He said the experts were asked rather silly questions like whether or not a microphone or a computer can broadcast. The idea of sending e-mails as a means to broadcast was also questioned. But Zimunya said he sees a method to this seemingly pointless questioning. He thinks the government knows they will not succeed should they pursue the original charges. He believes the expert witnesses on Tuesday pretty much destroyed that possibility. Zimunya said the prosecution appears to be already building a case centered around the production-end of the VOP broadcasts. He believes the charge will most likely change from contravening the Broadcast Act, tp will They

be building original charge will not using or whether comnputers can send broadcast signals eithtrial began The reporters were held in filthy cells for four days. This was not the first time that VOP has been targeted. In August 2002, its offices were petrol bombed by assailants suspected to be government agents. In an effort to circumvent, Zimbabwe’s laws, VOP broadcasts on shortwave from its transmitter in Madagascar.