SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PART OF MEDIA

UNCLAS HARARE 000891 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO ZI SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PART OF MEDIA CONTROL LAW ¶1. On May 8 the Zimbabwe Supreme Court ruled that Section 80 of the controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) is unconstitutional and invalidated that section of the Act. Section 80 made the publication of a "falsehoods" a criminal offense. In testimony before the ruling, the government's lawyer conceded that Section 80 was vaguely worded and could be interpreted so broadly that it would conflict with constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. ¶2. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has stated that he will present a revised Section 80 to Parliament for passage and enactment. SULLIVAN