Newspaper publisher freed from detention over coup story

The managing director of Zimbabwe’s independent ‘Standard’ newspaper, Clive Wilson, who was arrested on Friday in connection with a report on alleged coup plot, was freed on Monday for lack of evidence, news organisations reported.

The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, had issued a worldwide alert expressing concern for his safety, after the earlier detention of two ‘Standard’ journalists who were tortured by military police in a bid to get them to reveal their sources. Editor Mark Chavunduka and reporter Ray Choto were released on Thursday, bearing signs of beating and electric shocks.

Wilson was then taken into custody in connection with the 10 January report which alleged a military coup had been foiled and 23 soldiers arrested. Zimbawean Defence Minister Moven Mahachi has strenuously denied the allegations, dubbing them the work of Zimbabwe’s enemies.

Amnesty said it was also alarmed at the possibility that the two journalists may be rearrested and tortured again.

Wilson’s lawyer told reporters his case had not been thrown out of court and the police investigation would continue. The 62 year-old newspaperman, who spent three nights in police cells, was “tired but well” and showed no signs of ill-treatment, the lawyer added.