The recurrent violations of journalists’ basic rights and the complete disregard for the rule of law of the Zimbabwean leadership and law enforcement agencies are unacceptable. WAN is also alarmed by the recent assaults against human rights lawyers representing journalists in court.

WAN is appalled by the 29 March abduction and murder of former Zimbabwe state broadcaster ZBC cameraman Edward Chikombo, whose killing might be related to the leaking of footage of police brutality against opposition activists earlier that month.

WAN as well condemns the recent threat of reprisal made by the Information Ministry to foreign correspondents over what it considered to be “fabricated stories.”

In its policy to suppress press freedom and to asphyxiate the very last private media, the government is assisted by the Media Information Commission (MIC), which disrupts independent newspapers and strips journalists from their accreditation. In this context, WAN wishes to praise the rulings regularly made by Zimbabwean courts, including the Harare High Court, to quash abusive MIC decisions.

The Board of WAN calls on President Robert Mugabe to put an end to arbitrary and violent arrest, detention and torture of journalists, to firmly commit to the rule of law and to uphold international standards of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Zimbabwe.