'False news' trial set to go ahead

Trial date set as bail conditions are eased

THE bail conditions of Zimbabwean journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto were eased on 10 May 1999 when they appeared in court for a mention of the case in which they are charged with publishing false news contrary to s 50 of the Law and Order Maintenance Act [see False news is bad news, SAMLB Vol 4, No 1, February 1999].

Chavunduka and Choto, editor and senior reporter respectively of The Standard newspaper no longer have to report to the police every Friday and will also be able to use their passports to travel for work purposes. The magistrate also ruled that a security bond of about US$520 be refunded to the two journalists. The date for the trial was set for 2 August 1999.

Alleged coup plot

Chavunduka and Choto are facing charges of publishing false information as a result of an article published in their paper on 10 January alleging a coup plot in Zimbabwe. Chavunduka was arrested by the military on 12 January. Choto was arrested by police on 19 January, and was then handed over to the military for interrogation.

Before their release on bail on 21 January, the newspaper secured at least three High Court orders demanding their release, which were all ignored. On 30 April 1999, the same charged facing Chavunduka and Choto, were dropped against the group publisher of the Zimbabwe Mirror, Ibbo Mandaza, and journalist Grace Kwinjeh.

The two had been charged in February because of a story published in October 1998 which alleged that the family of a Zimbabwean casualty in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo had only received his head for burial.