MEDIA REPORT: PAPER TO CHALLENGE AIPPA; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000101 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PDPA DALTON, MITCHELL, SIMS AND AF/S RAYNOR POSTS FOR PAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT: PAPER TO CHALLENGE AIPPA; HARARE Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ),publisher of the independent "Daily News," has gone to court to challenge some sections of the controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA),arguing that the Act "interferes with and unduly restricts the enjoyment by the citizens and other inhabitants of Zimbabwe of their enjoyment of freedom of expression." AIPPA provides for compulsory registration of journalists by the state- appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC),among other restrictions. ANZ lodged the constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court on January 13 seeking a ruling that would declare invalid and devoid of legal effect sections of the Act which infringe on the rights to freedom of expression, association and protection from compulsory acquisition of property provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and the Attorney-General Patrick Chinamasa are cited as respondents. SULLIVAN