Africa News

Zimbabwe threatens Western journalists (1st Lead)

Mar 23, 2007, 10:47 GMT

Harare - The government of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Friday issued a chilling threat against Western journalists working in the southern African country as political tensions mount. In a statement quoted by the official Herald newspaper, the information ministry warned journalists, including the correspondents of two British newspapers - Jan Raath of the Times and Peta Thornycroft of the Daily Telegraph - that the government might be forced to act against them. The statement also accused broadcaster CNN of supporting a US government policy of regime change in the country. 'CNN's editorial hostility echoes the American administration's policy of regime change through illegal and pernicious sanctions designed to hurt Zimbabwe's economy and build disaffection in the populace,' the statement claimed. 'Sadly, CNN has embedded itself within such a treacherous imperialist policy which has already repeatedly failed and will never succeed in Zimbabwe,' it said. Zimbabwe's government is hostile to many Western media outlets, and has only registered a few to operate inside the country. All journalists working have to be licensed with the state- appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC). On Friday the MIC claimed Western embassies were smuggling reporters into the country. It also warned Zimbabweans offering accommodation to unlicensed foreign correspondents that they too would face prosecution. 'It is, therefore, important for all Zimbabweans hosting or accommodating any foreigners to tell them that if they are journalists, they ought to report to the MIC immediately and apply for accreditation,' the statement said. There are growing concerns for press freedom following the assault and detention of two journalists on March 11 as they tried to cover the prayer rally. Photojournalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and colleague Tendai Musiyazviriyo were arrested, assaulted and detained for two days despite holding valid press cards from the media commission. In a statement Friday, the Zimbabwean chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa for Zimbabwe and press watchdog Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe said a letter of appeal had been sent to Mugabe by a special rapporteur on press freedom. Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expresion of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights told Mugabe that freedom of expression is under attack in some parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe. 'Recently we are seeing an increase in the incidents of arrests, unlawful detention, assault, harassment, disappearances, death in detention and murder of journalists and media practitioners in countries that are member states to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,' Tlakula was quoted as saying. 'The Gambia, Eritrea and Zimbabwe are a few cases in point,' she added. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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mwariMar 23rd, 2007 - 12:13:48

whatever got into mugabe's head?
morally speaking, of course he was right getting land back to the people.
it's african land belonging to africans, not rich europeans.
ecnonomically, it was a disaster - no investor will support the disowning of rich white people... what kind of signal would that send to the global economic community?
anyway, good luck to tsvangirai... mugabe is way beyond control now i'm afraid.

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JohnMar 23rd, 2007 - 12:32:06

I wonder how lasting the feeling of contentment will last for the previous writer ? I to find myself in an intellectual predicament not fully acknowledged by the previews writer . We know that , in a perfect world, everyone would have surplus milk and honey . The surprise , black African leaders use resources insufficiently to promote self sufficiency and provide for their own self sustaining tyranny.

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MikeMar 23rd, 2007 - 19:38:50

'CNN has embedded itself within such a treacherous imperialist policy ...'

I'm having a hard time believing what I'm seeing.

MUGABE said that??

Who's the bad guy again?

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