Alert Update
9 May 2008

Trial of Kwekwe journalists postponed

 

The trial of three journalists employed by the weekly Network Guardian in the Midlands town of Kwekwe charged with abuse of journalistic privileges in contravention of the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) was on 6 May 2008 postponed to 22 May 2008.

Blessed Mhlanga, James Muonwa and Wycliff Nyarota who were initially facing charges of contravening the Supreme Court-nullified Section 80 (1) (a) (2) of AIPPA which used to prohibit the publication of falsehoods, have since now pleaded not guilty to contravening Section 80(a) (ii) of AIPPA which criminilises abuse of journalistic privileges.

The trial was postponed after one of the state witnesses failed to turn up in court.

The state alleges that on 26 March 2006, the three or one of them, unlawfully and intentionally and recklessly falsified information that is injurious to the reputation, rights and freedoms of others and published a story in the Network Guardian that George Muvhimi and Tatenda Munhanga were caught with their pants down while having sexual intercourse in a vehicle at Mbizo Shopping Centre in Kwekwe.

END

For any questions, queries or comments, please contact:

Nyasha Nyakunu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe