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Zim paper: Cops undermine court
27/10/2003 16:29 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe said on Monday the government of President Robert Mugabe directly undermined the decision of the administrative court of Zimbabwe when it arrested four Daily News directors at the weekend.
"This government will stop at nothing in its shameful and illegal quest to stop the Daily News from publishing," said Strive Masiyiwa, the chairperson of ANZ, which owns the Daily News.
"The arrest of Daily News representatives is further clear, irrefutable evidence that the Zimbabwean government does not want an independent newspaper in the country."
Zimbabwean police have arrested several senior directors of the Daily News since last week. Some of the people were charged on Monday.
The group was arrested for publishing the only independent daily newspaper in that country without a licence.
The paper was closed almost two months ago, but started publishing at the weekend after the Administrative Court of Zimbabwe ruled on Friday that the paper should be granted a licence before November 30.
The ruling of the court on Friday gave the go ahead to legally resume publishing the Daily News, Masiyiwa said.
"Given the decision of the court that the Media Information Commission was illegally constituted and its decisions biased, we intend to pursue legal action against the individuals involved in the closure of the Daily News on September 12 and sue for the financial losses incurred as a result."
Masiyiwa said the ANZ would pursue legal action against the Zimbabwean police force for contempt of court on the basis of their actions in arresting Daily News directors.
- SAPA
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