Daily News challenges AIPPA

The Daily News challenged the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act arguing that it interfered with and restricted freedom of expression.

The respondents were Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 03HARARE101, MEDIA REPORT: PAPER TO CHALLENGE AIPPA; HARARE

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UNCLAS HARARE 000101

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA DALTON, MITCHELL, SIMS AND AF/S RAYNOR

POSTS FOR PAS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KPAO ZI

SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT: PAPER TO CHALLENGE AIPPA; HARARE

Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publisher of the

independent “Daily News,” has gone to court to challenge

some sections of the controversial Access to Information

and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), arguing that the Act

“interferes with and unduly restricts the enjoyment by the

citizens and other inhabitants of Zimbabwe of their

enjoyment of freedom of expression.” AIPPA provides for

compulsory registration of journalists by the state-

appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC), among

other restrictions. ANZ lodged the constitutional

challenge in the Supreme Court on January 13 seeking a

ruling that would declare invalid and devoid of legal

effect sections of the Act which infringe on the rights to

freedom of expression, association and protection from

compulsory acquisition of property provided for in the

Constitution of Zimbabwe. Information Minister Jonathan

Moyo and the Attorney-General Patrick Chinamasa are cited

as respondents.

SULLIVAN

(125 VIEWS)