Nkomo in quandary over closure of Daily News

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

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

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

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

TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI

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

(22 VIEWS)