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Alert

Cartoonist threatened as government closes major independent newspaper

(CRN/IFEX) - Police have closed down "The Daily News" after Robert Mugabe's ruling party unexpectedly lost ground in recent municipal elections. Reporting from the capital, Harare, "Daily News" cartoonist and CRN correspondent Tony Namate said he now fears for his safety. In an e-mail to CRN, Namate wrote, "If the chairman of the Media [and Information] Commission, Tafataona Mahoso, gets his way, I could end up behind bars in Mugabe's notorious police cells."

Mahoso has said next week will be "D-day for people who have not registered with the Commission."

Namate has not registered since he feels the commission's new regulations are illegal according to international standards. "Registering my personal details with [them] is the same thing as a Jew registering with the Nazis," says Namate. "I am not worried about myself, but for my family, as the closure of 'The Daily News' means a loss of income."

The newspaper was closed under the new Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) crafted by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo. Namate suspects he is slated for arrest as Moyo has said as much publicly, criticising him in government-controlled newspapers for cartoons he has drawn in the past of Zimbabwe's leaders.

"For the first time in my life, I am scared," said Namate.

"The Herald" newspaper said Mahoso would soon meet with Information Minister Moyo to determine what would be done to "those who defy the law."