Southern Africa
In Swaziland, Phiwokwakhe Ngidi, reporter with the Times of Swaziland, was
attacked and beaten by the chairman of a beauty contest organisation on
February 19. The chairman was reportedly angered by an article Ngidi had
written about him.
In Tanzania, Tegemea Mwanhandisa, a freelance photographer with the daily
Majira newspaper and the Dar Leo evening newspaper, was reportedly assaulted
on February 14. Mwanhandisa, who suffered minor injuries and lost his camera
and personal effects of value worth 695 000 Tanzania shillings (US$ 700),
was beaten when he tried to photograph two couples kissing during a music
show. He was reportedly beaten by private security guards.
In Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, a photographer with The Daily News, was
assaulted by two soldiers when he was preparing to take pictures of the long
queues at a supermarket in Harare on February 19. According to Bulawayo the
soldiers then handed him over to the police who took away his camera,
handcuffed him and took him to a police station where other police officers
continues beating him before they finally released him.
Central Africa
In the Central African Republic, Mathurin Momet, publication director of
the private daily Le Confident was arrested on February 20. The journalist
is accused of "threatening the state’s internal and external security" and
"inciting hatred".
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Raymond Kabala, managing editor of
the Alerte Plus newspaper, remains imprisoned even though he finished
serving his seven-month sentence on February 19. Kabala was sentenced to
prison for making "harmful accusations" against former security and public
order minister Mwenze Kongolo.
Also in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Flix Kabwizi and Do Mulima,
managing editor and journalist, respectively, with the daily La Rfrence
Plus, have been summoned to appear before court on February 25 after the
managing director of Congolese Airlines filed a complaint against the
journalists and their newspaper for having made "harmful accusations"
against him and "use of falsehoods".
Sources:
Journalist in Danger (JED)
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
World Association of Newspapers (WAN)