[hr-media] Zimbabwe: Daily News newspaper closed down

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