A Mutare magistrate has fined Zimbabwean e-tv reporter Peter Moyo and a
colleague for practising journalism without accreditation from the
Media and Information Commission (MIC), writes Torby Muturikwa.
SA-based Moyo and his Zimbabwean colleague, Trymore Zvidzai, were fined Z$40 000 (R100) by magistrate Tsungisai Madzivaidze for violating Section 83 (1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which makes it an offence to practise journalism without accreditation.
The duo were arrested in February while filming a documentary on allegations of military involvement in illegal diamond mining in Manicaland Province.
They were arrested together with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH)
employees, Manicaland bureau chief Andrew Neshamba and Harare-based
cameraperson William Gumbo, after they were found in possession of video
equipment which they were using to cover illegal mining activities in
Marange village.
Neshamba and Gumbo, who are being charged under a law dealing with
criminal abuse of duty by public officers, were remanded to March 21, 2007
for trial.
Neshamba and Gumbo are the first journalists from the state media to be charged under this law.
