December 6, 1999
His Excellency President Robert Mugabe
Office of the President
Munhumutapa Building
Samora Machel Avenue/ 3rd Street
Harare, Zimbabwe
VIA FAX: 011-263-4-708-820
Your Excellency:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about recent death threats against Sunday Standard reporter Ray Choto.
The threats began in November, shortly after Choto returned to Zimbabwe after collecting an international press freedom award in Canada, along with his colleague Mark Chavunduka, editor of the Sunday Standard. On November 21 a package arrived at Choto’s home in Harare, containing a teddy bear, two live bullets, and a note threatening him and his family. Two other independent journalists, Basildon Peta of the Financial Gazette and Ibbo Mandaza of the Zimbabwe Mirror, received anonymous threats at around the same time.
Eight days later, an unsigned letter arrived at Choto’s office, informing him that he was being trailed and detailing his precise movements on a certain day. Part of the letter reportedly read, “we nearly pulled the trigger, but you should thank the lady who came to speak to you.” The letter also warned Choto that he was still being followed.
The most recent threat was against Choto’s wife, Girlie. An anonymous letter addressed to her arrived at the Choto residence on the night of December 1. The letter referred to an incident on November 13, when unknown men in a car harassed Girlie on her way home.
CPJ has written to Your Excellency on two previous occasions this year, on January 23 and September 29, protesting the January 12 illegal detention and subsequent severe torture by government agents of both Choto and Chavunduka. This brutal attack followed a report in the Sunday Standard newspaper that soldiers had plotted to remove Your Excellency from power because of alleged economic mismanagement, and because of Zimbabwe’s military involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two journalists were charged with publishing false information “likely to cause fear and despondency” under Section 50(2) of the widely discredited Law and Order Maintenance Act of 1960. To date, CPJ has not received a reply to either of these letters.
While Choto and Chavunduka have challenged the validity of the law under which they have been charged, the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue. And the Supreme Court challenge is only one of several court cases filed since the two journalists were arrested. Others include civil and criminal charges against the police and military for wrongful arrest, detention, assault and torture. CPJ fears the recent death threats against Choto may be related to these court cases. (Chavunduka is currently in the USA.)
As a non-partisan organization dedicated to the defense of press freedom worldwide, CPJ respectfully reminds Your Excellency of your government’s responsibility to ensure that journalists may practice their profession without fear of reprisal or attack. We strongly urge Your Excellency to ensure that these death threats are thoroughly and impartially investigated, and that the perpetrators are brought to justice, so that all journalists in Zimbabwe may work in safety.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
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His Excellency President Robert Mugabe
Office of the President
Munhumutapa Building
Samora Machel Avenue/ 3rd Street
Harare, Zimbabwe
VIA FAX: 011-263-4-708-820