Johannesburg, September 15, 2003 ARTICLE 19 condemns the closure of the Daily News in Zimbabwe On September 12, 2003, the Daily News, the country's only independent daily newspaper was closed down by Zimbabwean police. This decision came after the Supreme Court ruled that the paper was "operating outside the law," The Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), the proprietor of the Daily News is currently challenging the constitutionality of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) before the Supreme Court. But according to the Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, the Supreme Court would only consider the company's constitutional challenge once it had "submitted itself to the law, [registered]''. The AIPPA requires all media outlets and journalists to register with the state Media and Information Commission (MIC) or face criminal charges punishable by a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment or a fine. Registration is valid for one year only, after which a journalist will have to re-apply. The registration scheme under the AIPPA has been designed to bring all media under the control of the Media Commission, itself firmly under the control of the government, and impose strict sanctions on any journalists who fail to register or who breach the 'code of conduct'. 'We are shocked by the decision to close down the country's only independent daily newspaper, we urge the Zimbabwe government to desist from using repressive legislative provisions to harass the independent media and thereby depriving Zimbabweans of their fundamental right to information.' Says John Barker, ARTICLE 19' Africa Programme Director. Contact: Fatou Jagne Africa Programme Officer ARTICLE 19 Global Campaign for Free Expression PO Box 309421st Floor Braamfontein Centre 23 Jorissen Street Braamfontein 2017 South Africa Tel. +27114031488 Fax. +27114031517 Email fatou@article19.org.za For more information visit: www.article19.org
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