Zimbabwe: Editor and reporter arrested for writing “false statements”

Police in Zimbabwe have arrested two journalists from the Sunday Standard newspaper: editor Nevanje Madanhire and reporter Patience Nyangove for publishing allegedly “false statements” about the arrest of a government official. The official, Jameson Timba is minister for the Movement for Democratic Change party and was arrested for reportedly calling President Robert Mugabe a liar. Mr Timba’s release was later ordered during a special hearing in the Harare High Court. It is a criminal offence to insult the President under Zimbabwean law. Nyangove and Ramakgapola were charged with “publishing false statements prejudicial to the state” and are due to appear in court tomorrow.

Zimbabwe: state broadcaster suspends whistleblowers

O’Brien Rwafa, Jacob Phiri and Freedom Moyo, employees of state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH), were suspended from their positions for ten days. The three men were accused of leaking information about a government directive stipulating that state media should refrain from coverage of government ministers from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangiri. (Misa)

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