• ALERT Date: April 23, 2008 Person: Frank Chikowore Violation: Detained A Harare lawyer representing freelance journalist Frank Chikowore, who was charged with public violence on April 23, filed an urgent High Court application for him to be granted bail that was denied by the Magistrates’ Court. On April 22, Magistrate Olivia Mariga denied Chikowore and his co-accused bail when they appeared before her, saying the political climate in the country is still volatile and, as such, the accused persons may continue to incite violence. Chikowore and six other co-accused, among them opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) director of information and publicity Luke Tamborinyoka, were remanded in custody to May 5, 2008. However, in his application to the High Court Chikowore’s lawyer Harrison Nkomo is arguing that the case against Chikowore is weak as the state has failed to produce evidence implicating the accused. He also stated that if granted bail, Chikowore will not abscond as he is a professional journalist who is prepared to stand trial and clear his name. June 19, 2008: The trial of freelance journalist, Frank Chikowore, who is charged with public violence with 12 others, has been postponed to the July 14, 2008. The matter was postponed after State Prosecutor Chikware, advised the court of the absence of the trial magistrate and moved for the postponement of the trial to June 25, 2008. The matter was heard before Magistrate Catherine Chimanda. July 14, 2008: Freelance journalist Frank Chikowore and the 13 alleged Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters who are charged with inciting public violence and burning a bus, were on July 14 removed from remand. Presiding Magistrate Margaret Rusinahama granted the application for removal of remand made by the defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama on the condition that it would not prejudice the state in anyway. • ALERT Date: April 29, 2008 Person: Bright Chibvuri Violation/issue: Charged/sentenced Bright Chibvuri, the editor of The Worker, was on April 29 convicted of contravening section 83(1) of the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which criminalises practicing journalism without accreditation. Plumtree resident Magistrate Mark Dzira fined Chibvuri Z$2 billion (US$6) or 10 days’ imprisonment. Dzira, who had no kind, words for the now disbanded Media and Information Commission (MIC), however, still proceeded to convict Chibvuri of having practiced journalism on March 3, 2007 when he was not accredited. Chibvuri argues that on the day in question he was in Plumtree to oversee a workshop, which was organised by his employer, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. The court said the fact that Chibvuri had a tripod stand, camera and notebook indicated that he was indeed practicing journalism on the day in question. Date: May 22, 2008: Bright Chibvuri appealed to the High Court against both conviction and sentence. Chibvuri, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, was on April 29, 2008 convicted and fined Z$2 billion (US$6) or 10 days’ imprisonment. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -138- Media Institute of Southern Africa