ANOTHTER MEDIA TRIAL BEGINS

UNCLAS HARARE 001564 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER PARIS FOR NEARLY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO ZI SUBJECT: ANOTHTER MEDIA TRIAL BEGINS ¶1. The trial for independent "Daily News" reporter Lloyd Mudiwa, charged with violating the country's controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA),opens in Harare on June 20. Mudiwa is accused of having abused journalistic privilege by reporting false information. His trial comes hard on the heels of Andrew Meldrum's trial that opened in Harare last week, also facing similar charges. Meldrum, an U.S. national writing for Britain's "Guardian" newspaper, reproduced an article by Lloyd Mudiwa carried in the "Daily News" newspaper in April about a "beheaded woman." The story has since been disproved. ¶2. Meanwhile, Andrew Meldrum, the first journalist to be tried under AIPPA, yesterday sought High Court permission to have his case referred to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe as a constitutional matter. He is challenging the constitutionality of AIPPA. Yesterday the magistrate reserved judgment on the application, saying she needed time to examine the documents filed by Meldrum before making a ruling. ¶3. In the meantime, journalists from Zimbabwe's private media this week vowed to defy a requirement that they register under a government-appointed media commission. According to an article carried in the June 20 edition of the independent weekly "The Financial Gazette," members of the Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe (IAJ) resolved not to comply with the Media Commission requirements that journalists apply for accreditation. Zimbabwe's journalists and media houses were given until June 16 to accredit or register with the Mahoso commission or risk being prosecuted for violating AIPPA provisions. ¶4. Under headline "Zimbabwe journalism goes on trial today," the independent daily "The Daily News" dedicated its June 20 editorial to the significance of the Mudiwa trial. "Today, our reporter Lloyd Mudiwa appears in court, charged under the AIPPA. It is `The Daily News' on trial. . . The result, either way, will set a precedent with a potential to change the manner in which we speak or speak out against anything in our beleaguered country. . . The consequences of Mudiwa's case, preceded by that of Andrew Meldrum. . . are set to resonate beyond our borders. They threaten to change the face of our journalism." SULLIVAN