State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 tion and Protection of Privacy Act. Section 72 prohibits the practice of journalism or operating a media service without a licence granted by the government-appointed Media and Information Commission. • DATE: January 29, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Dina Kraft, Jason Beaubien, Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi VIOLATIONS: Detained, released O n January 29 2003, police detained Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, chief photographer of The Daily News newspaper, and two American reporters for almost seven hours in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. The journalists were covering Zimbabwe’s food crisis when they were accused of unlawful entry into the Grain Marketing Board’s premises. They were not charged with any offence. Mukwazhi was arrested with Dina Kraft of the Associated Press and Jason Beaubien, Africa correspondent for National Public Radio. The two Americans came to Zimbabwe with a factfinding mission led by James Morris, head of the World Food Programme. The reporters are believed to have asked for - and received - a one-week extension of their visas and accreditation. The three were arrested together with Bulawayo Movement for Democratic Change (opposition) Councillor Charles Mpofu and his driver. The journalists were reportedly denied access to their lawyer and were barred from communicating with anyone. • DATE: January 29, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Daily News newspaper, staff VIOLATIONS: Threatened M inister of Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo has said that The Daily News news paper and all its journalists are operating illegally because they are not registered with the Media and Information Commission. Moyo’s statements are contained in his founding affidavit to the Supreme Court, defending the “legality” of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). Moyo, the Media and Information Commission and the Attorney General are respondents in a Supreme Court challenge brought by the Associated Newspapers Group (ANZ), the publishers of The Daily News. The ANZ is challenging the constitutionality of the registration of media houses clause in the AIPPA. • DATE: February 3, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Ishmael Mafundikwa, Pedzisayi Ruhanya VIOLATIONS: Detained, beaten O n February 3 2003, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, deputy news editor of The Daily News newspa per, and freelance journalist Ishmael Mafundikwa were arrested for allegedly obstructing police duties. Ruhanya was manhandled by three baton-wielding policemen and dragged into a police vehicle. It is not clear when Mafundikwa was picked up. The journalists two are currently being held at the Harare central police station. • DATE: February 3, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Ishmael Mafundikwa, Pedzisayi Ruhanya VIOLATIONS: Victory T he two Zimbabwean journalists who were arrested on February 3 2003 have been released after the Attorney General refused to prosecute them. The Attorney General’s Office said The Daily News deputy news editor Pedzisayi Ruhanya and freelance journalist Ish Mafundikwa So This Is Democracy? 2003 118 Media Institute of Southern Africa