Newspaper faces closure on world press freedom day

AS JOURNALISTS the world over commemorated World Press Freedom Day yesterday, another independent newspaper in Zimbabwe faces closure after the Media and Information Commission appointed by the Government claimed it was publishing illegally.

A report in the government-controlled daily, The Herald, quotes Tafataona Mahoso, the chairman of the commission, as saying the weekly Tribune newspaper should stop publishing until it is granted a licence by his commission.

Ownership of the newspaper, which was established two years ago, changed hands earlier this year, and Mr Mahoso said that under terms of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the new owners must apply for a licence.