AFP Journalist Ordered to Leave Zimbabwe

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 10, 2002

AFP Journalist Ordered to Leave Zimbabwe

Griffin Shea, correspondent for Agence France Press, has been ordered to leave Zimbabwe by Saturday this week following the government's refusal to renew his work permit.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Griffin Shea, correspondent for Agence France Press, has been ordered to leave Zimbabwe by Saturday this week following the government's refusal to renew his work permit.

Shea has been working in Zimbabwe for the last two years. The government turned down his request for renewal of his permit on Friday last week, according to the Herald on Tuesday.

Shea would be relocating to Johannesburg, South Africa, just before his permit expires on Saturday.

He has indicated that he would not be contesting the refusal, reportedly endorsed by the Department of Information and Publicity.

In July, Zimbabwean Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo met AFP Director Denis Hiault in Harare todiscuss provisions governing operations of foreign journalists under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The act, which passed by the Parliament at the beginning of the year after intense debate, sets out new regulations governing operations of media organizations with regards to ownership and accreditation.

Under the act, foreigners may be accredited to practise as journalists for a limited period.

Shea joins a growing number of foreign journalists who have been ordered to leave Zimbabwe in recent months for various reasons.

In July, British Guardian correspondent Andrew Meldrum, a US citizen, was served with deportation orders minutes after being acquitted of contravening the act.

He had been accused of reproducing a false story first carried by the Strive-Masiyiwa-owned Daily News claiming that the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front supporters had beheaded a Karoi woman.

The High Court, a few days later, suspended Meldrum's deportation and referred the matter to the Supreme Court for determination.

In February 2001, a British correspondent, Joseph Winter, together with South Africa's Mail and Guardian journalist, Mercedes Sayagues, were deported.

Winter had been in Zimbabwe for four years and again had no permanent residency.

After the expiry of his work permit, he allegedly obtained supporting documents to have his permit extended by a further two years.

Sayagues was declared a prohibited person after the expiry of her temporary work permit.

Commenting on the issue, Moyo said last night there was nothing special or extraordinary about the expiry or non-renewal of a permit of a foreign journalist.

He described as foolish claims by Reporters Sans Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders) insinuating that work permits should be renewed at the whims of that particular reporter.

Minister Moyo said the government would not accept a situation whereby foreign journalists would continue to hold their work permits "until Jesus Christ comes back".

"We are not a Banana Republic wanting to please foreign journalists. We are a constitutional democracy underpinned by the rule of law. In this case our law is clear. No foreigner should be resident here as a journalist. We have made it clear that they canonly be here for limited period, in fact, the limited period is 30days," he said.

"We are very proud that we are one of the countries who have trained an impressive professional cadre of journalists and they need work. Shea is American and he can go and work there," he said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

White Farmers Begin to Leave Zimbabwe for Neighboring Countries

Zimbabwe Arrests Six White Farmers

Mugabe Attacks Rich Countries for Unequal World

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)