Prof Moyo says journalists' arrest a cause for concern

Criminal defamation is out-dated, says a Cabinet minister.

In comments on the arrest of Daily News journalists last night , Information minister Jonathan Moyo said; "Media inquiries suggesting that the editor of, and a reporter at, the Daily News have been or might be charged with criminal defamation have caused us some concern at the Ministry.

"We have previously placed on record that in our view criminal defamation is not only out-dated and incompatible with the values and ideals of the liberation struggle with respect to human rights and freedoms but also, and more importantly, criminal defamation is inconsistent with our new Constitution."

Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested the Group Editor of Association Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), the publishers of the Daily News, Stanley Gama, and senior writer Fungi Kwaramba, at the instigation of controversial businessman, Kamal Khalfan, over stories linking the Omani citizen to underhand deals in Zimbabwe.

The two spent three hours at Highlands Police Station where they were made to sign warned caution statements before being released. But a few minutes after he was released, Gama was informed that police at Harare Central Police Station also wanted him in for questioning over a defamation case reported last year by maverick Bikita West legislator, Munyaradzi Kereke.