the roll of journalists for life. This means I will be unable to report on the elections. I have been deprived of my livelihood for over a year, and now I will be deprived for another year and yet I have done nothing wrong. I am a Zimbabwean who just wants to practice journalism for my livelihood.85 On February 26, Reporters without Borders issued a press release highlighting its concerns over a growing government crackdown on the independent media.86 The organization stated that “journalists have been arrested, summoned and ordered to reveal sources, charged with ‘publication of false news’ and newspapers threatened with closure if they fail to comply.”87 The organization went on to cite a number of cases that highlighted the upsurge in government abuses against journalists. The cases included a raid on the offices of the privately-owned weekly Masvingo Mirror on February 9 by state security agents after the paper published articles referring to presidential candidate Simba Makoni. In a statement issued by the Herald on February 22, Minister of Information and Publicity Sikhanyiso Ndlovu threatened to sue the Financial Gazette newspaper for publishing a story about the refusal of key ZANU-PF members to sign the nomination papers of Robert Mugabe. The minister was quoted as saying, “As Minister responsible for Information and Publicity, I will not hesitate to institute the necessary corrective measures upon the paper in accordance to (sic) our laws and regulations as stipulated by the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).”88 The government has also prevented journalists from working by deliberately creating delays in court cases in which they face charges. For example, a journalist from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union weekly publication who was arrested on March 3, 2007, still had his case pending in the court almost a year later.89 In another example 85 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Brian Hungwe, Johannesburg, February 27, 2008. See also “MIC imposes illegal ban against journalist in violation of AIPPA Amendment Act,” MISA media alert. 86 Reporters sans Frontieres, “Zimbabwe: Government Steps up Hounding of Independent Press Ahead of Presidential Elections,” February 26, 2008. 87 Ibid. 88 “UK, US regime change agenda doomed: Ndlovu,” The Herald . 89 Human Rights Watch interview with Wilbert Mandide, February 5, 2008. All Over Again 32