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
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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