Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe chief executive Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said workers at the Daily News were not likely to get any salaries after the government closed the paper down and police confiscated its 120 computers.
Nkomo said police had taken away the computers to prove in court that the paper and its sister weekly the Daily News on Sunday were breaking the law.
The papers were closed down on 12 September 2003 for operating without a licence. The newspaper group lost its case in court.
Journalists and other workers of ANZ were barred from entering the premises by the police who were manning the ANZ building.
Nkomo had filed papers seeking to bar police from seizing the company’s property and to be allowed to continue operating while the newspapers’ registration papers were under consideration.
Nkomo was being charged with running ANZ without a license for the past nine months.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE1903, MEDIA REPORT “DAILY NEWS” UPDATE; HARARE
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UNCLAS HARARE 001903
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT “DAILY NEWS” UPDATE; HARARE
¶1. Since the government of Zimbabwe outlawed the
Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe on September 12, the
popular independent daily newspaper “The Daily News” has
not been appearing on the streets for five days. The
newspaper’s website has the message: “We apologize for the
inconvenience. The `Daily News’ will be back online as
soon as possible. Please come back regularly for updates
on proceedings.”
¶2. Meanwhile, the government-controlled Media and
Information Commission (MIC) chaired by Dr. Tafataona
Mahoso remains mute over an urgent application to register
with the MIC submitted by the ANZ, publishers of “The Daily
News” and its sister weekly “The Daily News on Sunday”
which were shut by the GOZ on September 12 after ANZ lost a
court case in which the newspaper group was challenging the
legality of mandatory registration under the controversial
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
(AIPPA). This development has cast a dark shadow over the
prospects of reopening soon.
¶3. According to press reports, police confiscated more
than 120 computers from the offices of “The Daily News” and
the “Daily News on Sunday” on Wednesday, September 17. ANZ
Chief Executive Officer Mr. Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said police
took away the computers so that they can prove in court
that the papers have been breaking the law.
¶4. Journalists and workers working for the ANZ may not
receive their salaries and wages for this month due to the
closure and disruption of business at the ANZ offices by
the police who are still manning the ANZ building and
barring workers from entering the building. A chamber
application has been filed by Nkomo, who is being charged
for running ANZ without a license for the past nine months,
in which he seeks to bar police from seizing the company’s
property and be allowed to continue operating while its
registration papers are under consideration.
¶5. Post regrets to advise that veteran journalist and
media consultant, Tarcey Munaku, has died. He participated
in the March 10 to May 1, 2001, “Partners for African
Leaders” exchange program hosted by the Indiana University.
Munaku joined the government-controlled daily newspaper in
the 1980s as a reporter and later joined the state-run news
agency ZIANA (Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency) where he
rose to become Home Editor. He later joined “The Daily
News” when it was formed and was its Political Editor. At
the time of his death, Munaku had left “The Daily News” and
was doing media consultancy work for the Media Institute of
Southern Africa-Zimbabwe.
SULLIVAN
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