US embassy cable - 03HARARE891

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SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PART OF MEDIA CONTROL LAW

Identifier: 03HARARE891
Wikileaks: View 03HARARE891 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Harare
Created: 2003-05-08 14:33:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PREL KPAO ZI
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
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 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, ZI 
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 

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