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Alert

Journalists released

(MISA/IFEX) - Managing editor Iden Wetherell, news editor Vincent Kahiya and chief reporter Dumisani Muleya, of the "Zimbabwe Independent" newspaper, have been released on bail by the magistrate's court. On 12 January 2004, the three were granted bail in the amount of Z$20,000 (approx US$24) each.

The magistrate's court quashed a recommendation by the Attorney General's Office that bail be set at Z$100,000 (approx. US$122) and that the three be required to surrender their passports and report to police every two weeks.

The journalists were represented by advocate Edith Mushore, who was being instructed by lawyer Linda Cook, of Atherstone and Cook. Mushore told the magistrate that the continued detention of the three journalists would jeopardise the "Zimbabwe Independent" newspaper as they are all senior staff. She also said that the journalists were unlikely to abscond as they are all Zimbabwean citizens. The state did not oppose the granting of bail.

Although the police had indicated that the journalists would be charged under Section 80 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the charge sheet showed that they were charged for criminal defamation, which is a common law offence. The magistrate remanded the three to 29 January.