AFP|A ZIMBABWEAN journalist has been sentenced to a year in jail for publishing a newspaper without government registration, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) said Friday.
Foster Dongozi, ZUJ secretary-general, said Patrick Chitongo was convicted by a magistrate’s court on Thursday and received a one-year prison sentence.
“It’s a sad day for press freedom when people are jailed for disseminating information,” Dongozi told AFP.
“However, we advise that, much as we disagree with the law which compels journalists to register, those intending to practise or publish should comply to avoid ending up in dicey situations.”
Regional media freedom advocacy group, the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA), said Chitongo had been jointly charged with three interns after publishing three issues of a newspaper called The Southern Mirror.
They were charged with breaching the country’s media laws, which forbid “carrying on or operating a mass media service without a valid registration certificate.”
Chitongo’s co-accused were acquitted after the court found that they were college students who did not have a say in the paper’s publication.
Chitongo denied the charges, saying the publications were dummies he intended to hand in to the media commission for registration.
Under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, journalists have to register annually with a government-appointed commission and publishers need to have a registration certificate.
2 Replies to “Journalist Imprisoned for Publishing Newspaper Without Registration”
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Then its useless to have an organisation like ZUJ.You are there to follow repressive laws. Journalists who say Tsvangirai is a coward, this is your chance to show us that you can make a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of your colleague.Wearing suits and giving each other portifolios , but facing harassment in daylight put to question the objectives of your org.Its a pity that Zimbabwe is stooping so low like this.
Instead of advising journalists to register, you must challenge the Con court and overrule the Mahoso madness of registration.Journalists are trained ethics and laws.So the courts will charge them if they go beyond ethical publications.Publishing is the main purpose of journalists.Do not fear the regime as you call us the povo.Arise and tell them enough is enough
Other countries fine you. In Zimbabwe thrown into prison? Just Like in North Korea…..