ZIMBABWE: Frank Chikowore released on bail

2 June 2008

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) welcomes the 2 May release of freelance journalist and internet writer Frank Chikowore, after more than two weeks in prison. However, the charges of ‘public violence' against him stand and there are concerns that he will not receive a fair trial. The WiPC is also concerned about continuing attacks on the print media following the contested March 2008 elections. It calls on the authorities either to back up or drop the charges against Chikowore, and to cease attacks against print journalists' peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression

Among the WiPC's concerns is the attack on freelance journalist Stanley Karombo who was reportedly hospitalised as a result of police beatings during his three-day incommunicado detention in April. Also of concern is the trial against a newspaper editor for publishing an opposition opinion piece. Moreover, in the same period three journalists have been put on trial and one other has been convicted for reporting ostensibly unrelated to the elections. The WiPC fears that these journalists are being targeted solely for their reporting on or around the election time, in violation of their right to freedom of expression.

Frank Chikowore (28), freelance journalist for publications including the private weekly The Standard, who also runs a popular blog covering the 2008 elections, was arrested on 15 April while covering a strike organised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to demand the release of the 29 March election results. Initially held incommunicado, Chikowore was not charged for six days, in violation of Zimbabwean law which states that this should occur within 48 hours of arrest. On 21 April he was finally charged with ‘public violence', in relation to the burning of a bus on the morning of 15 April. These charges came after the police had made and rejected a number of other accusations, including reporting without accreditation, arson and attempted murder.

Originally denied bail on the grounds that the political climate was still too volatile, Chikowore was finally released on 2 May, following payment of Z$5 billion (reportedly approx. US$167,000) bail. The judge ruled that the state had yet to establish a prima facie case against him due to the police's failure to produce the necessary evidence. However, the charges of public violence still stand and Chikowore has been ordered to report to the police twice a week pending his trial.

There are concerns that the charges against Chikowore may have been fabricated, and the delays in charging him and granting him bail suggest that he may not receive a fair trial.

The contested March 2008 elections have prompted a new spate of attacks on the press in Zimbabwe. For example:

• Freelancer Stanley Karombo, who was held incommunicado for three days in April following his coverage of celebrations for the 28th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence (see RAN 22/08 and Update #1), was reportedly hospitalised as a result of beatings sustained in police detention. Karombo, who was charged with ‘conduct likely to cause public disorder' and released on payment of a fine, was said to be suffering from nightmares and problems with his eyesight.

• Davison Maruziva, editor of the popular independent Sunday newspaper The Standard, was arrested, detained overnight and put on trial for publishing a 20 April opinion piece by MDC breakaway faction leader, Arthur Mutambara, which was critical of the Mugabe regime.

• The post-election period has also seen the initiation of legal proceedings against three other print journalists and the conviction of one other, even though their reporting was ostensibly unrelated to the elections themselves. On 24 April Blessed Mhlanga (f), James Muonwa and Wycliff Nyarota, all journalists for the weekly Network Guardian, based in Kwekwe, central Zimbabwe, were put on trial for a 26 March story on a couple who were allegedly caught having sex in a vehicle parked at a shopping centre in Kwekwe. On 29 April, after a 13-month trial, Bright Chibvuri, editor of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) magazine The Worker, was convicted of practising journalism without accreditation and ordered to pay a fine of Z$2 billion (reportedly approx. US$6) or serve 10 days in prison. An appeal was lodged with the High Court on 15 May on the basis that Chibvuri was in fact duly accredited in 2007, including on the date of his arrest.