International Federation of Journalists demands safety guarantees for Zimbabwe journalists after media hit list leaked from government
Source Date: 21-09-2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the government of Zimbabwe to guarantee the safety of 15 journalists named on a hit list that appeared to have been leaked from official sources…

The IFJ was shocked to learn of what appears to be a list of journalists who are accused of working with "hostile anti-Zimbabwean western [sic] governments" and to see that it included the name of Foster Dongozi, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and member of the IFJ Executive Committee…

The leaked document appears to date from June this year and is headlined "2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections." A list of 15 names then follows under the heading "Targeted Journalists".

Below the names is a short note:

"The following media personnel and others as discussed in the previous meeting are to be placed under strict surveillance and taken in on the various dates set. They're working hand in hand with hostile anti-Zimbabwean western [sic] governments. Measures to be taken against the above including those in exile, are listed on page 4 summary."

Top of the list is Abel Mutsakani who survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in South Africa on July 23. Mutsakani was an editor at the Zimbabwe daily newspaper The Daily News until it was banned in 2003. He moved to South Africa in 2004, so that he could report freely on Zimbabwe, and launched ZimOnline.

Also named is Gift Phiri, a correspondent of the Zimbabwean newspaper, who in early April was abducted by police and severely beaten in the capital, Harare. In August, Phiri was acquitted of charges of contravening the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

Another journalist named is Bill Saidi - deputy editor of the privately-owned newspaper The Standard - who in January received a brown envelope containing a bullet and a threatening message warning him to "watch out".

All the journalists listed work for private media and do independent investigative reporting.

"In the run up to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections expected in 2008, independent journalism will be key to ensuring that the voting process is fair and democratic," said IFJ general secretary Aidan White. "We will be watching Zimbabwe closely to ensure that our journalist colleagues are able to do their jobs freely and safely."

Identified victims: Abel Mutsakani, Gift Phiri, Bill Saidi

Source: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
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SADC standards breached

• 2.1.1: Full participation of the citizens in the political process;
• 2.1.2: Freedom of association;
• 2.1.3: Political tolerance;
• 4.1.1: Constitutional and legal guarantees of freedom and rights of citizens
• 4.1.2: Conducive environment for free, fair and peaceful elections
• 7.4: [The member state holding elections shall] Safeguard the human and civil liberties of all citizens …
• 7.5: [The member state holding elections shall] Take all necessary measures and precautions to prevent the perpetration of fraud, rigging…
• 7.7: [The member state holding elections shall] Ensure that adequate security is provided to all parties participating in elections;