Journalist trial set for July

The trial of Gift Phiri, the chief reporter of The Zimbabwean who is facing charges of practising journalism without accreditation, has now been set for 9 July 2007.

Harare - The trial date was on 4 June 2007 pushed to July as the trial magistrate is currently on leave. Phiri is charged with contravening of Section 79 (1) and Section 80(1) (b) of the restrictive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). Section 79(1) of AIPPA relates to practicing journalism without accreditation while Section 80 creates the offence of abuse of journalistic privilege.

He is on bail of Z$100,000 (US$400) with stringent reporting conditions.

Phiri was arrested at Sunningdale Shopping Centre in Harare on 1 April 2007 and spent four nights in police cells. He was briefly detained at Sunningdale Police Post before being transferred to Harare Central Police Station where he was brutally assaulted by the police.

Article courtesy of The Zimbabwean