Chronology of media-government relations

The following is a chronology of the deteriorating relationship between the Zimbabwean government and the independent press from January 1999. 12 January 1999: The editor of the privately-owned 'Standard' newspaper, Mark Chavunduka, is detained by the army over a story run on 10 January alleging that 23 Zimbabwean soldiers had been arrested following a coup attempt. The government dismisses the report as untrue. 14 January 1999: The Zimbabwe army defies the first of three court orders to release Chavunduka on the grounds that civilian courts have no jurisdiction over military camps where he is being held. 19 January 1999: 'Standard' senior writer, Ray Choto, is also picked up by police over the same story and handed over to the army. Both men are tortured and beaten by military and civilian police while being interrogated over their sources for the report. They sustain serious injuries. The two journalists are charged under Section 50 (a) (2) of the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA), which states that anybody who publishes a false story which is likely to cause "fear, alarm or despondency among the public or any section of the public ... shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years". 20 January 1999: In the southern town of Masvingo, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officers reportedly assault staff working for the independent 'The Zimbabwe Mirror' and the 'Tribune'. The officers accuse the journalists of writing anti-government stories. 21 January 1999: Choto and Chavunduka are released on bail. 22 January 1999: Police arrest the managing-director of 'The Standard', Clive Wilson, and detain him for three nights. Wilson is later released unconditionally after the Attorney General refuses to prosecute for lack of police evidence. 8 February 1999: Four journalists from the private weekly, 'The Zimbabwe Mirror' are arrested by police in connection with an article written in October 1998 alleging that the family of a Zimbabwean soldier killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was sent only his head for burial. The government denies the allegations. Managing editor Fernando Goncalves and former managing editor Farai Mungazi are released a short while after being taken in. But reporter Grace Kwinjeh and publisher Ibbo Mandaza are detained and released on bail the following day. Kwinjeh and Mandaza are charged under the LOMA. 1 April 1999: The 'Daily News', Zimbabwe's first independent daily since 1995, hits the streets. 25 April 1999: President Robert Mugabe tells the state-owned 'Sunday Mail of his intention to broaden state powers against the country's press. He says current laws give journalists a higher status than "gods or angels". 30 April 1999: Mandaza and Kwinjeh appear in the Harare Magistrate's Court for a review of their bail conditions, and are informed that the charges have been dropped. No reason is given. 19 May 1999: Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende announces in parliament that an "information policy" is being drafted to guide the formulation of a new media law. Provisions of the new law would include a media council to regulate the professional conduct of journalists. The council would be in a position to "register and sanction journalists who breach the code of conduct", Chimutengwende explains. 22 April 2000: A bomb thrown from a passing car explodes outside the offices of the 'Daily News', which has been vocal in its criticism of the government. 21 May 2000: The Supreme Court discharges the case against Choto and Chavunduka. 1 August 2000: The 'Daily News' exposes an alleged plot to assassinate its editor, Geoff Nyarota. The would-be gunmen, Bernard Masara, reportedly warns Nyarota of the plot. In front of senior editors at the newspaper he allegedly telephones his CIO handler and discusses the assassination plans. 30 August 2000: The editors of the two main pro-government newspapers 'The Herald' and the 'Sunday Mail' are sacked, reportedly due to declining circulation. 19 September 2000: Jonathan Moyo, Minister of State for Information and Publicity says the government is not planning to liberalise the airwaves. No private independent radio stations have existed in Zimbabwe since independence. 22 September 2000: The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's monopoly over the airwaves is nullified in a Supreme Court ruling that allows a private broadcaster, Capital Radio (Pty) Limited, to operate. The Court rules that ZNC's monopoly is unconstitutional. 4 October 2000: President Robert Mugabe signs temporary legislation to regulate public radio and television broadcasting and armed police close down Capital Radio. Under the legislation, enacted under emergency presidential powers, the Minister of State for information and Publicity in the President's Office has the final authority in issuing broadcasting licenses. 6 October 2000: Police release and then re-seize Capital Radio's broadcasting equipment. January 23 2001: So-called War veterans beat up 'Daily News' deputy news editor, Julius Zava. January 26 2001: Police question three 'Daily News' journalists for alleged defamation of President Robert Mugabe. January 27 2001: War veterans and ruling ZANU-PF supporters march through the city centre threatening to attack 'Daily News' staff for their alleged anti-government bias. Veterans also set upon vendors and burn copies of the paper after their leader, Chenjerai Hunzvi, said he would "ban" the daily. In retaliation, a driver at 'The Herald' is badly beaten by opposition youths in the sprawling high density suburb of Chitungwiza as he delivered copies of the paper. January 28 2001: A powerful bomb explodes in the printing plant of the 'Daily News' extensively damaging the US $2 million plant. Reports suggest at least four anti-tanks mines were used and quoted the police as saying they had been laid by "explosives experts". The attack on the paper follows a warning by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo that it was only a matter of time before Zimbabweans put a stop to what he called the newspaper's "madness". The government condemns the bombing, but is widely blamed for inciting the violence that led to the blast. January 29 2001: A slimmer 'Daily News' hits the streets after using the printing press of the weekly 'Zimbabwe Independent'.