Date: September 06, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Media and people of Zimbabwe Violation: Legislation On September 5 2005, the General Laws Amendment Bill was tabled before parliament. The Bill seeks to amend several other Acts including 2 sections of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) by increasing the penalty fees against journalists convicted of publishing statements that undermine the authority of the President. The present fine of Z$100 000 will be increased to Z$10 million or five years imprisonment or both such fine and imprisonment. The penalty fee under Section 16 which deals with undermining the authority of the President will be increased from $20 000 to Z$2,2 million or one-year imprisonment or both such fine and imprisonment. ALERT Date: September 16, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Munhumutapa African Broadcasting Corporation (MABC) Violation: Censored On September 16 2005, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) denied the Munhumutapa African Broadcasting Corporation (MABC) a licence to operate a commercial television station. The BAZ ruled that MABC had failed to demonstrate that it had the financial muscle to operate such a venture. The MABC is appealing the BAZ’s decision. ALERT (including update) Date: August 18, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Bornwell Chakaodza, Valentine Maponga Violation: Victory (charges dropped) On August 18 2005, the State dropped charges against former editor Bornwell Chakaodza and reporter Valentine Maponga of Zimbabwe’s privately-owned weekly Standard newspaper. The two were arrested and charged with “publishing false statements prejudicial to the State” under Section 15 of the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Chakaodza and Maponga were arrested on May 19, 2004, following the publication of a story on May 16, 2004, which claimed that the family of the slain Trojan Nickel Mine boss, Leonard Chimimba had blamed some unnamed government officials for his death. ALERT Date: August 05, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Hosea Chipanga Violation: Beaten On August 5 2005, prominent Zimbabwean musician Hosea Chipanga, was accused and grilled by members of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) for allegedly singing that President Mugabe would only vacate office upon his death. ALERT (including update) Date: August 04, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Kelvin Jakachira Violation: Detained On August 4 2005, former Daily News journalist Kelvin Jakachira was arrested on charges of practicing without accreditation in terms of Section 83 (1) Chapter 10:27 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). His trial was postponed to August 11 at the request of his lawyer. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -163- Media Institute of Southern Africa