Editor arrested for publishing “false story” on First Lady

The editor of the Zimbabwe Independent Iden Wetherell was arrested on 17 April 2002 for allegedly publishing a “false story” linking the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, to a labour dispute involving her brother.

The short diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks did say much except citing the arrest of another editor Geoff Nyarota.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE954, MEDIA REPORT ANOTHER EDITOR ARRESTED; HARARE

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS HARARE 000954

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER,

AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM

SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT ANOTHER EDITOR ARRESTED; HARARE

Police in Harare on April 17 summoned Iden Wetherell,

editor of the weekly “Zimbabwe Independent,” for

questioning over allegations of contravening the newly

enacted Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

Act. He was released on the same day. Wetherell’s summons

come hard on the heels of similar charges this week against

Goeff Nyarota, Editor-in-Chief of the independent daily

“The Daily News,” and “Zimbabwe Independent” Chief reporter

Dumisani Muleya. Wetherell and Muleya are being jointly

charged for publishing a “false story” linking First Lady

Grace Mugabe with a labour dispute involving her brother at

a local herbal company. Nyarota was this week charged in

connection with a story that accused the Registrar-

General’s office of manipulating the March presidential

poll results in favor of ZANU PF’s presidential candidate

Robert Mugabe.

WHITEHEAD

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