Saize, who was arrested on 18 January 2006 and spent three nights in police
cells, was facing two separate charges under AIPPA and POSA. In count one,
Saize was being charged for contravening the now repealed Section 83 of
AIPPA which criminilised the practice of journalism without accreditation.
Under POSA he was alleged to have contravened Section 15 (1) (c) by
communicating falsehoods. Allegations against him were that on 18 January
2006, Saize had peddled falsehoods to Voice of America’s Studio 7 that two
teachers from Gomorefu Secondary School in Marange Communal Lands had been
assaulted by ZANU PF youths, war veterans and the youth militia, commonly
referred to as Green Bombers.
The State was to allege that this was false as the two had been assaulted by
“some people” after scolding a local woman.
In declining to prosecute, Musarurwa said the state did not have sufficient
evidence to warrant a prosecution.
Mutare Media Lawyers Network (MLN) member, Cris Ndlovu, together with
MISA-Zimbabwe Legal Officer Wilbert Mandinde appeared for Saize.
MISA-Zimbabwe welcomes the conclusion of the case against Saize which had
been hanging in the air for more than two years and urges the police to
release his equipment which includes a Sony mini disc recorder which they
seized when they arrested him in 2006.
For any questions, queries or comments, please contact:
Nyasha Nyakunu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe
Post published in: News