17 September 2003

Alert

Police seize "Daily News" newspaper's equipment


Incident details

newspaper(s)

seized
(MISA/IFEX) - On 16 September 2003, police confiscated computers and other equipment from the offices of the privately-owned "Daily News" newspaper.

Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, a police spokesperson, said the police took the equipment to use as exhibits in court. "The Daily News" is being charged under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for allegedly operating a mass media service without a licence.

Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, chief executive officer of "The Daily News", told the press that the confiscation of equipment by the police was illegal as no court order had been granted allowing the seizure. The police, however, said they did not need a court order to seize exhibits. Nkomo said the police could have taken copies of the paper rather than computers.

"The Daily News" has applied to the High Court to have the seizure of its equipment stopped. The matter is set to be heard on 17 September.



Source:

Media Institute of Southern Africa
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
director (@) misa.org
Phone: +264 61 232975
Fax: +264 61 248016
 

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More on this case

High Court dismisses "The Daily News" case 3 October 2003 Six more charged for practicing journalism without MIC accreditation 3 October 2003 "The Daily News" challenges refusal of licence by MIC; MISA-Zimbabwe told to register 24 September 2003 Independent news directors arrested 23 September 2003 "The Daily News" newspaper to appeal denial of licence 22 September 2003 Police defy High Court ruling allowing "The Daily News" newspaper to reopen 22 September 2003 High Court rules that "The Daily News" can reopen; photographers detained and released 18 September 2003 Cartoonist threatened as government closes major independent newspaper 15 September 2003 "The Daily News" newspaper to remain closed "indefinitely" 15 September 2003 Authorities close independent daily, detain three staff members 15 September 2003

Zimbabwe

IFJ welcomes release of New Zealand photographer 11 May 2012 Police arrest members of civic organisation 2 April 2012 Six activists sentenced for watching Arab Spring video 23 March 2012 Four journalists arrested while covering pollution story 13 March 2012 War veterans threaten "NewsDay" newspaper 8 March 2012 See all alerts: Zimbabwe


 
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