Zanu-PF, MDC-T unite

Political parties have blasted businessman Kamal Khalfan of abusing the Criminal Defamation laws through instigating charges against Daily News group editor Stanley Gama and senior writer Fungisai Kwaramba.

Monday's arrest of Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe Group Editor, Stanley Gama, and senior writer Fungisai Kwaramba, has elicited widespread condemnation from both Zanu-PF and the MDC-T, with both parties saying the abuse of Criminal defamation laws by powerful interests must stop.

Usually divided in their opinion politicians from the two major parties have shown unity in criticising the use of archaic defamation laws against the media.

Virtually all the people who spoke to Daily News yesterday, including lawmakers, politicians and analysts, slammed the Defamation laws and called on authorities to drop the criminal charges against the two ANZ journalists who spent three hours at Highlands Police Station on Monday where they were made to sign warned and cautioned statements before being released.

The two were arrested over stories linking Omani citizen to alleged underhand deals in Zimbabwe.

Usually Zanu-PF and MDC-T are divided over their political opinions but on this case have joined hands against the archaic defamation laws against the media.

Press freedom groups have roundly condemned people abusing criminal defamation laws to supress media freedom in Zimbabwe.

This follows the arrest of Stanley Gama, the group editor of ANZ, the publisher of the Daily News, and senior reporter Fungi Kwaramba, at the instigation of controversial businessman, Kamal Khalfan, over stories linking the Omani citizen to underhand deals in Zimbabwe.

Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) director said it had become a habit for well-placed people in Zimbabwe to use criminal defamation charges to cover their backs.