State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 O n August 9 2003, Flata Kavinga, a journalist with The Midlands Observer, a weekly provincial newspaper, was attacked by suspected ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) youths. The incident occurred at the Mbizo Inn, a nightclub in the city of Kwekwe, in the Midlands province. • DATE: August 9, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Flata Kavinga VIOLATIONS: Censored O n September 11, the Supreme Court dismissed ANZ’s (publishers of The Daily News) application challenging the constitutionality of certain sections of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The application was dismissed on the basis of the “Clean Hands” doctrine in that the company had failed to comply with the Act that requires all newspaper companies to be registered by the Media and Information Commission (MIC). • DATE: September 12, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Daily News VIOLATIONS: Censored (closed) O n the evening of September 12, armed riot police and intelligence officers took over the eight-story Associated Newspapers Group (ANZ) offices in the city centre and its printing factory in the industrial areas of Harare and ordered all employees out. ANZ publishes the Daily News and Daily News on Sunday. The Daily News was accused of operating illegally because it did not register with the MIC. Under Zimbabwe’s strict media laws, all news organisations, newspapers and journalists must register with the MIC. The Daily News had refused to register, saying mandatory registration with the commission is unconstitutional. The paper subsequently applied to register with the commission. • DATE: September 17, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Tsvangirai Mukwazhi, Aaron Ufumeli, Syrus Nhara VIOLATIONS: Detained, other O n September 17 three freelance photojournalists Tsvangirai Mukwazhi, Aaron Ufumeli, Syrus Nhara were arrested at a pro-democracy protest march in the capital, Harare, and charged with ïnterfering with police activity”. They spent the night in a holding cell at Harare’s Central Police Station, and were released the following day after paying a small fine. According to news reports, protesters at the march called for the reopening of The Daily News. Police arrested more than 100 demonstrators before breaking up the rally. UPDATE • DATE: September 18, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Daily News VIOLATIONS: Censored (update) Z imbabwean police have defied a High Court ruling granted on September 18 2003, which ordered that The Daily News newspaper be allowed to reopen. Armed police officers have remained inside The Daily News premises and prevented staff from accessing the offices. The police have also defied the High Court by refusing to return The Daily News’ computers and other equipment they confiscated, allegedly to use as exhibits in court to show that the paper was operating illegally. So This Is Democracy? 2003 124 Media Institute of Southern Africa