IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - ZIMBABWE

9 January 2002

Ruling party youths destroy copies of "The Daily News" and harass vendors
during demonstration

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - Youths from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union -
Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party have destroyed hundreds of copies of the
independent "The Daily News" in the town of Masvingo during a demonstration
against alleged misinformation by the paper.

On 27 December 2001, the youths, numbering over 100, took to the streets in
Masvingo to protest what they alleged to be lies being published by the
newspaper about the Zimbabwean government. The demonstrating youths, who
were addressed by Masvingo's Provincial Governor Josiah Hungwe, spent the
whole day chasing "The Daily News" vendors from the streets of Masvingo.

A spokesperson for the group who was quoted in "The Herald" said that the
demonstration was a warning to the newspaper that negative publicity would
not be tolerated. "We want the paper and its white supporters and black
puppets to know that we will not watch while they continue telling lies
about our country," said the unidentified spokesperson.

According to the 28 December edition of "The Daily News", the youths, some
as young as ten years old, said they had taken their instructions from
ZANU-PF Chairperson for Masvingo and Higher Education Minister Samuel
Mumbengegwi. Mumbengegwi is reported to have watched the mayhem from a
distance. "We have banned the sale of 'The Daily News' from Masvingo. The
paper is writing bad news about the ruling party and we no longer want to
see it on the streets," said some of the youths quoted in "The Daily News".

The newspaper reports that some of the hired youths were not even sure why
they were destroying copies of "The Daily News". "We were hired to do this,
but I am sure we are demonstrating against corruption," said one of the
youths quoted in "The Daily News".

Although a report was made to the police about the destruction of the
newspapers, the police stood by idly as the youths continued their rampage.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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