H. E. Mr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Office of the President
Harare
Zimbabwe

Vienna, 11 July 1995

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, is most concerned about the case of three leading Zimbabwean journalists charged with criminally defaming a cabinet minister and a high court judge.

Elias Rusike, publisher of the independent weekly Financial Gazette, editor Trevor Ncube and deputy editor Simbarashe Makunike were arrested on 13 May 1995 and detained for more than 48 hours before they were officially charged with criminal defamation. The charges were brought by Housing Minister Enos Chikowore and Justice Paddington Garwe in response to a story in the Financial Gazette of 20 April alleging that the high court judge had presided over the secret wedding ceremony of President Mugabe and his former secretary, with Minister Chikowore and his wife as witnesses. This is the first time that criminal defamation charges have been used against journalist in Zimbabwe since colonial times.

We are informed that on Friday, 7 July 1995, a Zimbabwean court dismissed an application to acquit the three journalists. Their trial, which opened on Thursday, has been adjourned until 26 July.

The Financial Gazette has apologized to Minister Chikowore and Justice Garwe, saying that it was misled by a “highly reliable source” in the government, and has withdrawn its allegations. Regardless of the merits of the paper’s story, we strongly condemn the use of criminal charges in a matter which should be dealt with under civil law. The use of such legislation against non-violent opponents or critics is a serious violation of international standards and treaties on press freedom and should be discontinued immediately. IPI, therefore, urges you to use your office’s influence to ensure that the criminal charges against the three newsman are dropped.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director