Flata Kavinga, a journalist with the Midlands Observer in Kwekwe, was on 14 October 2010, cleared of any possible charges by the police after he produced proof of his accreditation with the statutory Media and Information Commission. His lawyer Valentine Mutatu, a member of MISA-Zimbabwes Media Lawyers Network, said the police had also released his camera and diary which they had confiscated when they arrested him.
The police had indicated that they were contemplating charging him in terms of Section 78 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which deals with practicing journalism without accreditation.
Background
Kavinga was arrested and detained on 10 October 2010 around 11.00 hrs while covering a demonstration by St Bernard Roman Catholic church members against the parishs priest.
He was subsequently released on 11 October to allow him to obtain proof of his accreditation by 14 October 2010.
Post published in: Politics