Yesterday's arrest and detention of four more Zimbabwean journalists is an ominous development for both Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa region. This incident, follows the earlier detention and torture of two other Zimbabwean journalists. In each case, newspaper articles critical of the Zimbabwean government's involvement in the DRC conflict, have been cited by that country's security forces as the reason for their actions.
The SACP is all too aware of the difficulties in struggling for, and protecting, the right to freedom of expression. Similarly, the latest victims of the Zimbabwe government's actions, Ibbo Mandaza and his colleagues at the Southern Africa Printing & Publishing House (publishers of both the weekly Zimbabwe Mirror and the Southern African Political & Economic Monthly), have, over many years, made welcome contributions to a critical appraisal of developments in Zimbabwe and our region.
In the judgement of the SACP, the measures taken by the Zimbabwean government can only contribute to a dangerous situation, where the exercise of people's rights, is treated as a privilege, granted by those in power, and not a basic human right. It would be in the best interests of all Zimbabweans, and the people of Southern Africa, for the Zimbabwean government to affirm such rights instead of undermining them.
Issued by the SACP Department of Information & Publicity
E-Mail: sacp1@wn.apc.org
South African Communist Party Head Office
COSATU House
No. 1 Leyds Street - 7th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
(Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2)
(Fax: 27 11 339-4244)