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DATE=2/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245349
TITLE=ZIMBABWE / REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THERE IS GROWING CONDEMNATION, BOTH INTERNATIONALLY AND 
WITHIN SOUTHERN AFRICA, OF THE APPARENT CRACKDOWN LAUNCHED BY 
ZIMBABWEAN AUTHORITIES AGAINST JOURNALISTS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 
ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHERN AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT:  IN RECENT WEEKS, SEVERAL JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN
ZIMBABWE.  AT LEAST TWO HAVE REPORTED BEING TORTURED.  THE 
ACTIONS WERE LINKED TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES RELATED TO ZIMBABWE'S 
CONTROVERSIAL DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS IN CONGO-KINSHASA.
THE DETENTIONS HAVE TRIGGERED AN OUTPOURING OF CRITICISM.  BUT 
ZIMBABWE'S INFORMATION MINISTER CHEN CHIMUTENGWENDE REMAINS 
ADAMANT THAT SOME JOURNALISTS IN HIS COUNTRY ARE INVOLVED IN A 
PLOT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.  HE SPOKE WEDNESDAY IN AN INTERVIEW 
WITH SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL RADIO.
               ///  CHIMUTENGWENDE ACTUALITY  ///
         SOME JOURNALISTS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE DECIDED TO JOIN AN
         ANTI-ZIMBABWE CAMPAIGN BASED ON LIES AND MALICIOUS 
         RUMORS, DELIBERATELY AIMED AT  CREATING ALARM AND 
         DESPONDENCY AND FOR THE OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT BY 
         UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEANS.  
         ///  OPT  ///   THEY ARE OPPOSED TO CONSTITUTIONAL 
         CHANGE AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEKING IS CHANGE BASED ON A 
         MILITARY TAKEOVER. ///  END OPT  ///
                     ///  END ACTUALITY  ///
///  OPT  ///   ONE OF THE ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS WHO HAS BEEN 
ARRESTED, IBBO MANDAZA, DISPUTES THE MINISTER'S CLAIM.  
INTERVIEWED OVER A SCRATCHY TELEPHONE LINE, MR. MANDAZA ALSO SAYS
EFFORTS BY ZIMBABWEAN AUTHORITIES TO RESTRAIN THE PRESS WILL 
FAIL.
              ///  OPT  //  MANDAZA ACTUALITY  ///
         JOURNALISM MUST BE PROFESSIONAL, JOURNALISM MUST BE 
         ACCURATE, BUT I ALSO  BELIEVE THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO REIN 
         IN THE MEDIA ALONG THE LINES THE MINISTER IS IMPLYING IS
         COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND WON'T WORK ANYWAY.
              ///  END ACTUALITY  //  END OPT  ///
THE NEW YORK-BASED GROUP HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS APPEALED TO 
ZIMBABWE'S GOVERNMENT TO RECOMMIT ITSELF TO PRESS FREEDOM.  THE 
LONDON-BASED GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS CALLING ON SOUTHERN 
AFRICAN LEADERS TO INTERCEDE WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE TO REAFFIRM 
THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
SOUTH AFRICAN LAWYERS HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT VOICING ANXIETY 
OVER THE DETENTION AND REPORTED MISTREATMENT OF JOURNALISTS IN 
ZIMBABWE.  SOUTH AFRICAN MEDIA GROUPS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL 
EDITORS FORUM, HAVE APPEALED TO PRESIDENT MUGABE TO HALT WHAT 
THEY CONSIDER THE PERSECUTION OF REPORTERS.  
                     ///  REST OPTIONAL  ///
IN AN EDITORIAL COMMENT THIS WEEK, THE RESPECTED SOUTH AFRICAN 
NEWSPAPER "BUSINESS DAY" SAYS ZIMBABWEAN OFFICIALS RECENTLY 
PROTESTED OVER ITS USE OF THE WORD "DICTATORSHIP" TO DESCRIBE MR.
MUGABE'S GOVERNMENT.  BUT IT  USES THE WORD ONCE AGAIN, CALLING 
MR. MUGABE A "DESPERATE MAN" AND SAYS THAT WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS 
THE ASSAULT ON PRESS FREEDOM MARKS ZIMBABWE'S STEEPENING SLIDE 
INTO DICTATORSHIP.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
10-Feb-99 6:59 AM EST (1159 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.