Zimbabwean authorities charge journalist Hope Chizuzu under cybercrime law
Lusaka, October 6, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities should immediately drop charges against sports freelancer journalist Hope Chizuzu, return his electronic devices, and allow him to carry out his work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Around midmorning on September 29, police detectives went to Chizuzu’s office in the central business district of the capital Harare,…
Rwandan court acquits, releases 3 Iwacu TV journalists
Nairobi, October 5, 2022—In response to the acquittal and release on Wednesday of three journalists for YouTube-based Iwacu TV who have been detained in Rwanda since October 2018, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement expressing relief: “We are greatly relieved that the court has recognized the charges against Damascene Mutuyimana, Shadrack Niyonsenga,…
Congolese authorities order Lomela city radio stations off the air over security concerns
Kinshasa, October 5, 2022—Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Sankuru province should reverse their decision to shut down radio stations in Lomela city and ensure media there can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On September 17, Jules Lodi Emongo, governor of Sankuru province, ordered privately owned radio stations based in the…
Angolan opposition journalist’s wife assaulted in apparent retaliation for his reporting
New York, October 4, 2022–Angolan authorities must swiftly investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the assault on Ludmila Pinto, the wife of broadcaster Claudio Pinto, in an apparent warning to the journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. At around 6 p.m. on September 20, two unidentified men whose faces were concealed…
Somali journalist Ahmed Mohamed Shukur killed while covering security operation
Nairobi, October 3, 2022 — In response to reports that Somali National TV journalist Ahmed Mohamed Shukur was killed in a bomb attack on Friday, September 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Ahmed Mohamed Shukur joins a long list of Somali journalists who have lost their lives while reporting the news,…
Zambian officials threaten journalist Wellington Chanda over reporting
At least four officials with Zambia’s ruling political party, United Party for National Development (UPND), threatened Wellington Chanda, a reporter for the privately owned City TV broadcaster in the northeastern town of Kasama, during two separate phone calls on August 7 and 8, 2022, over a City TV report, according to news reports, a statement…
Guinea regulator orders 1-month suspensions for 3 journalists and ‘Africa 2015’ radio program
Dakar, September 30, 2022—Guinean authorities should lift the suspension of Nostalgie Guinée’s “Africa 2015” radio program and three of its journalists, and ensure the press can report freely on subjects of public interest without sanction, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Friday, September 23, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), Guinea’s media regulator,…
Proposed Ugandan legislation seeks to criminalize ‘misuse of social media’
Nairobi, September 28, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni not to sign into law a bill that would undermine press freedom by criminalizing speech sent via computer on a broadly defined and vaguely worded range of grounds. On September 8, Uganda’s Parliament passed the Computer Misuse…
DRC journalist Tatiana Osango sexually assaulted, two other journalists attacked by police in separate incident
Kinshasa, September 23, 2022 – Authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo should thoroughly and transparently investigate and hold accountable those responsible for attacking three journalists — Tatiana Osango, Didier Kiku, and Trésor Bazola — in two separate incidents in September, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On September 15, supporters of opposition politician…
Two Zimbabwean journalists denied entry to political rally, one attacked by security agent
Lusaka, September 21, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities should hold accountable the security agent who attacked journalist Ruvimbo Muchenje at a rally for opposition political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and the CCC should ensure journalists are not unduly denied access to its public events or harassed for doing their job, the Committee to Protect Journalists said…