Zimbabwe: Police defy order to vacate banned newspapers premises
The police have defied a High Court order passed on 9 January ordering them to vacate premises of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publishers of the banned The Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday. Despite being served with the order, police ignored it and stayed put at the premises, preventing journalists from accessing the newsroom. The government argues that there is nothing in the order granting the ANZ the right to resume publishing. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court to have the paper remain closed.
Media Alert
13 January 2004
Police defy order to vacate banned newspapers premises
The police have defied a High Court order passed on 9 January ordering them to vacate premises of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publishers of the banned The Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday.
Despite being served with the order, police ignored it and stayed put at the premises, preventing journalists from accessing the newsroom. Samuel Sipepa Nkomo the ANZ chief executive officer said that the police did not comply with the order.
“We had a lengthy meeting with them and served them with the order but they said they had not received instructions from their superiors,” said Nkomo.
The government argues that there is nothing in the order granting the ANZ the right to resume publishing. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court to have the paper remain closed. Gugulethu Moyo, the legal adviser for ANZ said they would oppose the latest appeal by government. She told MISA-Zimbabwe that they would sue the police for contempt of court for refusing to leave their premises.
Background
On 9 January 2004, High Court Judge, Tendai Uchena made a ruling that that the police vacate the premises of the ANZ. The order further states that police refrain from interfering with the normal business activities of the applicant and its employees. The ANZ had applied for an order to be allowed access to its offices and printing press following the illegal closure of the ANZ premises.
The police however remained at the ANZ premises even after the judgement on 9 January. The latest judgement follows another one delivered on 19 December by Judge Selo Nare of the Administrative Court granting that the ANZ resume publishing. The police ignored this as well.
END.
Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe
84 McChlery Ave
Eastlea
Box HR 8113
Harare
Zimbabwe
Phone 00 263 4 7761 65
Mobile 00 263 11 602 685
E mail [email protected]