The Supreme Court said section 80 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which made the publication of “falsehoods” a criminal offence was unconstitutional.
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said he would revise the section.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE891, SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PART OF MEDIA
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
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
(33 VIEWS)
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