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Journalists acquitted of espionage

    JOHANNESBURG

    Ten of 11 Zambian journalists charged with espionage last year were acquitted on Friday by the High Court, but their editor will face another court hearing before his case is ruled on.

    The 10 reporters working for ‘The Post’ newspaper were arrested on charges of exposing Zambia’s military secrets in an article comparing its forces to those of neighbouring Angola. They were acquitted on a technicality after the state failed to prove the role each journalist played in gathering the information. However, editor Fred M’membe was not exonerated. The judge said that as he was responsible for the content of the paper, he should show cause as to why he should not be charged with an offence.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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