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State of the media in Southern Africa 2002 2002 ALERT DATE: 2002-04-11 PERSON(S): Pedzisayi Ruhanya VIOLATION(S): Expelled On April 10, 2002, “The Daily News” chief reporter Pedzisayi Ruhanya was expelled from a press conference, on the orders of Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede, who was addressing the media. Mudede had called the conference to dismiss a April 9 “The Daily News” front-page story headlined, “Mudede tape proves Mugabe lost Election”. The newspaper had reported that the total number of votes announced by Mudede in a live broadcast, as having been polled by all five contesting presidential election candidates, was 700,000 votes less than the figure subsequently published in other media outlets. Upon being pressed to clarify the contradictions in his figures over election results of the recently held presidential poll, the registrar general replied by accusing “The Daily News” of lying. On April 10, “The Herald” newspaper reported that journalist Ruhanya suggested that the registrar general was a “pathological liar” who wanted to mislead the nation. During the press conference, Ruhanya insisted that Mudede explain the discrepancies between the election results that he announced through the national broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), and results that were later reported in other media outlets. “Get out,” Mudede shouted at the journalist in response while thumping the table with his fist. It is reported that Mudede drew his chair back and marched towards 210 So This Is Democracy? Ruhanya while ordering his subordinates “to call the boys”. Ruhanya was thrown out from the conference by two security guards. However, two other journalists from “The Daily News” remained behind. At the press conference, Mudede announced that Morgan Tsvangirai’s figure had increased simultaneously by 4002 votes. Tsvangirai is the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The new figures were announced one month after the elections. According to “The Daily News”, ZBC also provided figures that were at variance with Mudede’s latest ones but consistent with those published in “The Daily News” on April 9, and those announced by Mudede on 13 March. “The Daily News” reports that, instead of explaining the confusion over the election results, Mudede shifted the focus and started to attack the newspaper of lying and publishing false information to satisfy “certain agendas.” “It’s just a story to justify certain agendas that may need to be justified,” Mudede stated in reference to the “The Daily News” report that had pointed out the discrepancies. “The final report was distributed to all the parties with the correct figures. It looks like ‘The Daily News’ is cooking up figures to justify their allegations (of rigging) against the registrar general,” Mudede said. “The Daily News” reported that Mudede asked journalists at the conference what action he should take against “The Daily News”. ZBC’s diplomatic reporter Judith Makwanya is said to have suggested “legal action.” Mudede also accused the government owned “The Herald” of publish-
ZIMBABWE State of the media in Southern Africa 2002 ing incorrect information. “The Daily News” used some of the figures from earlier “The Herald” reports. Mudede could not be drawn into explaining where a government owned newspaper got its figures. “Go and ask ‘The Herald’ where they got the figures,” Mudede retorted. “The Daily News” editor-in-chief Geoff Nyarota said that the newspaper stands by its story as published on 9 April. “We urge our readers to go through Mr. Mudede’s full statement as published here and then compare it with our story, to see if the registrar general has in any way addressed the legitimate concerns raised in the story,” Nyarota stated. “Why doesn’t ZBC show the tape again?” he asked. ALERT DATE: 2002-04-15 PERSON(S): Geoff Nyarota VIOLATION(S): Detained, legislation Geoff Nyarota, editor-in-chief of Zimbabwe’s only independent daily “The Daily News”, was released at around 4:00 p.m. (local time) on 15 April 2002 after being charged under Section 80 Subsection 1 (a) of the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Nyarota was arrested at around 1:00 p.m. on 15 April at his offices. He was picked up on allegations of publishing a false news item on the outcome of the controversial March 2002 presidential elections. He stands accused of having falsified information by alleging that Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede announced contradicting results in the presidential elections in different media outlets. On 10 April, “The Daily News” carried a story entitled “Mudede Tape proves Mugabe lost election”. The story reported that the total number of votes announced by Mudede in a live broadcast as having been polled by all five presidential candidates is 700,000 votes less than the figure subsequently published in other media outlets. MISA’s Zimbabwe chapter (MISA- Zimbabwe) confirmed that Detective Inspector Makedenge recorded a “warned and cautioned” statement, which Nyarota signed. MISA-Zimbabwe also confirmed that Nyarota denied the charge. Nyarota is quoted as saying: “I deny this charge. The article is not false, it is based on an audio-visual tape recording of the registrar general as he announced the results of the presidential elections, broadcast live on radio and television on Wednesday 13 March 2002. I reserve my constitutional right to make a full and detailed statement upon seeing the full particulars of the state’s case.” Section 80 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act is entitled “Abuse of Journalistic Privilege”. Subsection 1 (a) of Section 80 reads that “a journalist shall be deemed to have abused his journalistic privilege and committed an offence if he falsifies and fabricates information”. The article in question is not false as it is based on verified media recordings. UPDATE DATE: 2002-04-16 PERSON(S): Dumisani Muleya VIOLATION(S): Detained, legislation Dumisani Muleya, chief reporter of So This Is Democracy? 211
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