State of the media in Southern Africa - 2004 • ALERT Date: March 25 and 26, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Radio Dialogue. Koliwe Nyoni, Gordon Moyo Violation(s): Bombed (raided), detained (2) On March 25 and 26 2004, Police in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo, raided the offices of “Radio Dialogue” - a community radio station that is based in the city - and arrested several staff members. Five police officers came to the station in the morning and asked for Father Nigel Johnson, the station manager who was away in South Africa on business. The officers then produced a search warrant which stated that police had reason to believe that Father Johnson was in possession of subversive material. The warrant was to search the “Radio Dialogue” offices and Father Johnson’s private home. The officers proceeded to search the eight offices and two studios and took away some documents. They also recorded the details of the station’s 17 employees. On March 26, the officers returned to “Radio Dialogue” where they arrested the Marketing Officer, Koliwe Nyoni. Nyoni spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the Central Police station. Nyoni was asked about a Public Order and Security Act public awareness advert that was placed in newspapers by MISA-Zimbabwe in 2003. A newspapers cutting of the advert was among the documents seized on March 25. Nyoni was also questioned on the activities of MISA-Zimbabwe and Bulawayo Agenda. On March 26 Bulawayo Agenda coordinator, Gordon Moyo, also spent the day at the station. After questioning him, the officers proceeded to search his house. The two were released without being charged. • ALERT Date: April 11, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Shandukani Mathagu Violation(s): Expelled On April 11 2004, South African broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalist was arrested at BeitBridge border post for allegedly entering Zimbabwe illegally. He was released after the South African authorities provided his traveling details. • ALERT Date: April 20, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Richard Musazulwa Violation(s): Beaten On April 20 2004, the “Standard” journalist Richard Musazulwa, was assaulted by soldiers for writing a story in which he alleged that 65 army recruits had fled training. • ALERT Date: April 21, 2004 Persons/Institutions: The Daily Telegraph Violation(s): Expelled On April 21 2004, “Daily Telegraph” journalist Mihir Bose, was deported from Zimbabwe for entering the country without proper accreditation. • ALERT Date: April 29, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Sky News television crew Violation(s): Expelled On April 29 2004, the Department of Information, asked a “Sky News” television crew - Ben So This Is Democracy? 2004 146 Media Institute of Southern Africa