Zimbabwe keeps paper muzzled

The paper says the new media law restricts free speech

Zimbabwean officials have blocked an attempt by the Daily News - the country's only independent privately-owned newspaper - to resume publication.

The paper, closed by the authorities a week ago, had applied for a licence from the government-appointed Media and Information Commission.

But the commission ruled that the paper's publishers - Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) - had "failed to meet the requirements of the law".

The paper had applied eight and a half months after the expiry of a government deadline for registration, the commission ruled.

The Daily News had also failed to supply the commission with free copies of the paper, as required under the new media law, it said.

A decision that denies the people of Zimbabwe their fundamental right to freedom of expression Sam Nkomo Chief executive of Daily News publisher ANZ Journalists' fears

The offices of the newspaper, which is critical of President Robert Mugabe, have been sealed off since 12 September.

The latest twist in the legal wrangling was reported in the state-owned Herald newspaper.

On Thursday, a high court judge ruled that the Daily News should be allowed to resume operations.

Police earlier evicted staff and seized equipment from the Daily News when it was shut down for failing to register under the strict media law.

Defiance

ANZ's chief executive, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, vowed to keep up the fight through the courts on Saturday.

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"With one stroke of a pen the... commission has made a decision that denies the people of Zimbabwe their fundamental right to freedom of expression", he said.

"ANZ will continue to pursue legal action to get the Daily News back on the street."

The newspaper is still not publishing online either.

"They never wanted to register us... These events challenge all of us to speak out and demand an end to such injustice", Mr Nkomo said.

In its ruling on Thursday, the High Court said police had no right "to prevent the applicant and its employees from gaining access to the premises of the applicant and carrying on its business".

The court also said equipment seized in raids must also be returned to the Daily News.

Restrictions

The Zimbabwe state controls the country's two other daily papers and the single television and radio broadcast station.

The Daily News said the media law was designed to stifle the press and initially refused to apply for accreditation.

The Supreme Court has often ruled against Mr Mugabe's government.

Critics and supporters of Mr Mugabe agree that the judiciary has become one of the strongest checks on his government, says the BBC's Joseph Winter.

Last year, judges sentenced a cabinet minister to three months in jail for contempt of court.