low graphics version | feedback | help
Death threats target Zimbabwe's journalists
Ray Choto is suing the authorities after being tortured earlier this year |
Police in Zimbabwe say they are investigating alleged death threats against journalists working for independent newspapers in the capital, Harare.
In one case, a child's toy and two bullets were delivered to the home of journalist Ray Choto.
 See you in heaven before Y2K  |
| Note sent to Ray Choto |
A third journalist, Ibbo Mandaza of the Zimbabwe Mirror, was threatened by a telephone caller.
Mr Choto and a colleague, Mark Chavanduka, were arrested earlier this year after their newspaper, the Standard, published a report alleging a coup plot against President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since independence in 1980, dismissed the story as the work of state enemies.
'Terror tactics'
Mr Choto is now suing President Robert Mugabe's government for civil damages following his detention and torture by security police in February.
The detention of the journalists earlier this year sparked protests |
"It is totally unacceptable in any civilised society ... such cowardly threats merely embolden journalists to take up the cudgels," he said.
Mr Mdlongwa was himself detained earlier this year, but charges of publishing a false story on the death of a Zimbabwean soldier in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were later dropped by the state.
He has demanded a full police investigation of the death threats, which he believes are connected.
A police spokesman said: "We are looking into all the reports, and will do our best to bring to book the culprits making these threats."
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
27 Jan 99 | From Our Own Correspondent |
|
Seeking the truth in Zimbabwe |
| |
|
|
23 Apr 99 | Africa |
|
Medical help for torture journalists |
| |
|
|
08 Feb 99 | Africa |
|
Mugabe challenges Supreme Court |
| |
|
|
15 Jan 99 | Africa |
|
Zimbabwe army 'defies release order' |
| |
|
|
21 Jan 99 | Africa |
|
Detained Zimbabwe journalists 'beaten' |
| |
|
|
23 Jan 99 | Africa |
|
UK wants Zimbabwe 'torture' inquiry |
| |
|
|
04 Feb 99 | From Our Own Correspondent |
|
Trouble in store for Zimbabwe |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
Harare Government Departments |
| |
|
|
Amnesty International |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other Africa stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~04~RS~)