communication of falsehoods, which may incite public disorder or public violence.
ALERT
Date: June 13, 2005
Persons/Institutions: Margaret Chinowaita, Taka Muparutsa, Conway Tutani,
Darlington Majonga, Fanwell Jongwe, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, McDonald Dzirutwe and
Cornelia Mabasa.
Violation: Legislation

Former Daily News journalists, Margaret Chinowaita, Taka Muparutsa, Conway Tutani,
Darlington Majonga, Fanwell Jongwe, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, McDonald Dzirutwe and Cornelia
Mabasa, were served with summonses to appear in court for practicing journalism without
accreditation in terms of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The journalists were expected to appear in court on 12 October.
ALERT
Date: June 2, 2005
Persons/Institutions: SW Radio Africa
Violation: Censored

On June 2 2005, SW Radio Africa station which broadcasts from London was forced to beam
its last short-wave broadcast due to repeated jamming of its transmission signal by the Zimbabwean government. The station that is manned by Zimbabwean exiled in the UK is now broadcasting on medium wave which does not cover the whole of Zimbabwe.
ALERT
Date: May 18, 2005
Persons/Institutions: Frank Chikowore
Violation: Beaten, detained

On May 18 2005, freelance journalist Frank Chikowore was assaulted and subsequently arrested by the police while covering a blitz on street vendors and suspected criminals in Harare’s
central business district. Chikowore was released on May 19, 2005, without charges after
spending a night in police cells at Harare Central Police Station
ALERT
Date: May 18, 2005
Persons/Institutions: National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
Violation: Other

On May 18 2005, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a pressure group agitating for
constitutional reforms, was barred from launching its album dedicated to agitations for a democratic constitution in term of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.
The album, Singing for a New Constitution, had been widely distributed despite the police
ban.
ALERT
Date: May 10, 2005
Persons/Institutions: Radio Dialogue
Violation: Censored

On May 10 2005, Radio Dialogue was denied a licence to operate a free to air commercial
radio by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). The BAZ ruled that in its application, Radio Dialogue had described itself as a community radio station but had proceed to
apply for a free to air commercial radio licence in Bulawayo.

So This Is Democracy? 2005

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Media Institute of Southern Africa

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