MISA Condemns Arrest of Daily News Editor, Reporter

via MISA Condemns Arrest of Daily News Editor, Reporter 08.04.2014 VOAZimbabwe

MISA Zimbabwe strongly condemns the arrest of Daily News editor Stanley Gama and the paper’s senior writer Fungi Kwaramba on April 7, 2014, following a police report by businessman Kamal Khaltan.

Their arrest was reportedly in connection with stories published by the Daily News linking Khaltan to underhand deals in Zimbabwe. The two were questioned by Highlands Police in Harare and charged with criminal defamation before signing warned and cautioned statements. They were released a few hours later.

This incident follows the filing of a $10million civil lawsuit by Khafan over the same subject matter.

“It is MISA- Zimbabwe’s considered view that there is no place for criminal defamation laws in a democratic society especially where alternative civil remedies are already in place. Criminal defamation borders on the criminalisation of the right to freedom of expression – a fundamental right enshrined in the country’s constitution as well as regional and international instruments on promoting civil liberties,” said MISA in a statement.

More details to follow …