JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 99 ____________________________________________________________________ Mr Meldrum, a foreign correspondent for the English paper, The Guardian, was prosecuted for having sent this story to his newspaper, which then published it. He was found not guilty of contravening s 80(1)(b) the Act. His case is dealt with in topic 2 of Section A of this report. Story about militants forcing teachers to pay protection money In May 2002 The Daily News published a story alleging that teachers in rural areas were being forced to pay protection fees to ZANU (PF) militants. The reporter who had written this story was arrested by the police in Mutare and questioned about the story. He was not charged. When they released him the police said they would get in touch with him when they needed to do so. Stories about importation of anti-riot equipment and about prostitutes arrested by the police In May 2002 The Standard newspaper published two stories. In the first it was alleged that the government had brought in state-of-the-art military equipment and anti-riot gear to crush anti-government demonstrations. In the second it was alleged that prostitutes in the Harare area were making arrangements with the police for their release in return for sex with the police. The editor, the entertainment editor and a reporter were arrested in connection with these stories. They were charged with contravening s 80(1)(b) the Access Act. They were held overnight in custody and then taken to court and were remanded out of custody on bail. Story about changes at Zimpapers and ZBC In May 2002 The Standard newspaper published a story about impending changes at Zimpapers and at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. The following day the Minister of Information said this story was false and accused the paper of lying deliberately.