Guardian man ordered to leave Zimbabwe after ‘not guilty’ verdict

An American journalist who writes for The Guardian newspaper was today ordered to leave Zimbabwe, minutes after being found not guilty of publishing a false story.

Andrew Meldrum, a permanent resident who has lived in the southern African country for two decades, was given 24 hours to leave.

Earlier, Judge Godfrey Macheyo had acquitted him because prosecutors failed to refute his claim that he took all reasonable steps to verify his story about the murder of an opposition supporter.

The report was later proved false, but under Zimbabwe’s draconian media laws, the 50-year-old correspondent had faced up to two years in jail.

‘‘I feel I am vindicated. I am delighted,’’ Meldrum said, before being told to leave by immigration officials.

Since the new media law was signed in March, 13 independent journalists have been charged with publishing false information, most relating to the same story of the supposedly murdered opposition member.

Mr Meldrum’s case was the first to be tried under the new law.

Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, said: ‘‘We utterly deplore the decision to deport Andrew Meldrum from the country that has been his home for the last 22 years. The deportation papers were served only minutes after Andrew had been acquitted of all charges under the new Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The deportation order was signed on July 3, suggesting there was never any intention of a just result.

‘‘This is an extremely serious blow to the operation of a free and independent media in Zimbabwe. We urge the international community publicly to condemn this decision.

‘‘We are very concerned about the 13 Zimbabwean journalists who are also facing charges under this new law.’’