JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 100 ____________________________________________________________________ The editor of the paper and a reporter were arrested in connection with the story. They were charged with contravening s 80(1)(b) of the Act. After being questioned by the police they were released. Story criticising the handling of journalists by police In May 2002 The Standard newspaper published a story about the way in which the police dealt with journalists. The article alleged that the police enjoyed harassing journalists from the private media, took orders from above in relation to such cases and followed directives that they did not even understand. The journalist also narrated his experience in the police cells when he had been previously arrested. The paper’s editor and a journalist were arrested in connection with this story. They were charged with contravening s 80(1)(b) of the Act. After being questioned by the police they were released. Story about the widow of Joshua Nkomo In July 2002 The Daily News published a story alleging that the family of the late Vice-President, Joshua Nkomo, had not been invited to a state-organised function in Mutare in memory of Dr Nkomo, and that his widow had to be flown to the function in a military helicopter at the last minute. The Department of Information accused the paper of lying in this story. The Bulawayo reporter of the paper was questioned by the police. In his warned and cautioned statement he said he stood by this story, which he had got from Dr Nkomo’s daughter. When they released him the police said they would proceed by way of summons if the reporter was going to be taken to court. Other charges brought against journalists In May 2002 The Zimbabwe Independent published a picture of a semi-naked Amazonian man in traditional attire. The paper’s editor has been charged with contravening the Censorship and Entertainments Control Act by publishing this photograph.