time employment by mass media services and news agencies operating in Zimbabwe.82 In addition, sections 15 and 16 of POSA, which criminalize certain media offenses, have not been dealt with by the amendments.83 In a clear example of how little has changed on the ground for journalists, Human Rights Watch documented the case of Brian Hungwe, a well-respected Zimbabwean journalist of 10 years’ professional experience. Hungwe applied for accreditation to work as a freelance journalist in March 2007, but in September 2007 the MIC banned him from practicing journalism for a year. On February 26, 2008, the MIC upheld that decision following Hungwe’s appeal. The MIC accused him of contravening sections of the AIPPA, relating to conditions under which journalists are accredited.84 Hungwe told Human Rights Watch, I got the determination in September 2007. I was told that I would be banned from any events to do with journalism until August 2008. If I breached these conditions I was told I would be banned for life. I appealed to the minister of information in late September who handed me over to Bright Matongo, his deputy, who also assured me that I would get accreditation. In November 2007 I asked about the status of my accreditation and once again I was assured that I would get accreditation. In January 2008 I went to the MIC and was told that by approaching the minister of information I showed a lack of confidence in their ability to deal with my case. Soon afterwards amendments to AIPPA came into place and I thought things would be sorted out and I would get my accreditation. Today I got a letter rejecting my appeal for the ban to be reconsidered and that despite amendments to AIPPA I was still banned from reporting. If I breach that I will be deleted from 82 Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2002. 83 Section 15 of POSA makes it an offense to publish or communicate false statements that may be prejudicial to the state. Section 16 of POSA makes it a crime punishable by imprisonment of up to one year to make statements construed as engendering feelings of hostility towards the president. 84 Specifically he was charged with violations of sections 90 and 79 (5) of AIPPA as read with section 6 of Statutory Instrument 169 C of 2002. The sections relate to conditions under which the MIC can accredit journalists and to the representation of offices of foreign mass media services. “MIC imposes illegal ban against journalist in violation of AIPPA Amendment Act,” MISA media alert, February 27, 2008. 31 Human Rights Watch March 2008