Zimbabwe: REPORTER EJECTED FROM COURT ROOM
A Daily News reporter, Chris Gande, was ejected from a courtroom during court proceedings by a prison official, The Daily News reported on 28 June. Gande, who is based in the city of Bulawayo, was covering court proceedings in which two prison officials are being charged with contempt of court for defying court orders to release two prisoners who had been granted bail. A reporter from the government-controlled Chronicle was, however, allowed to cover the case.
MEDIA ALERT
>
> 28 JUNE 2002
>
> REPORTER EJECTED FROM COURT ROOM
>
> A Daily News reporter, Chris Gande was ejected from a courtroom during
court
> proceedings by a prison official, The Daily News reported on 28 June 2002.
>
> Gande, who is based in the city of Bulawayo, was covering court
proceedings
> in which two prison officials are being charged with contempt of court for
> defying court orders to release two prisoners who had been granted bail.
A
> reporter from the government-controlled Chronicle was, however, allowed to
> cover the case.
>
> "Mr. Gande, I have been ordered to ask you to leave this court," said the
> official, without disclosing the source of the instruction, reports the
> paper.
>
> MISA-Zimbabwe notes that no reasons were given as to why the reporter was
> ejected from the meeting. Courtrooms are accessible to members of the
public
> and journalists under Zimbabwe law. Though guided by dress cords and
> expected behaviour standards, noone can be barred from attending court
> proceedings. Journalists have their press gallery and are allowed to cover
> court proceedings whose deliberations are also public information. The
> action by the prison official violates the rights of Gande as a journalist
> and a citizen of Zimbabwe. Efforts by MISA-Zimbabwe to get a comment from
> the Public Relations Officer of the Zimbabwe Prisons Service, Frank Meki,
> were unsuccessful as he was said to be out of the office.
> END