Cablegate: Independent Editor Mark Chavundhuka Dies

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS HARARE 002481

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA, AF/PDPA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO ZI
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT EDITOR MARK CHAVUNDHUKA DIES

1. The November 10 death of journalist Mark
Chavundhuka represents a loss to Zimbabwe's independent
media. Chavundhuka was founding editor of the
independent weekly "Standard," a position he held
through April 2002. He died Monday night at a private
hospital in Harare after "a long illness." Friends and
family knew that Mark had been living with AIDS for
several years.

2. Chavhunduka and his chief reporter Ray Choto (now
at Stanford University) made international headlines in
1999 when they were arrested and tortured after the
"Standard" published a report alleging an attempted
coup in the Zimbabwean military. Chavundhuka was a
Niemann fellow in the 1999-2000 academic year.

3. At the time of his death Chavhunduka had just made
history by becoming Zimbabwe's youngest publisher. In
April Chavhunduka acquired majority shares in Thompson
Publications - owners of Zimbabwe's largest circulating
monthly magazine "Parade" - and was the company's Chief
Executive Officer.

SULLIVAN

© Scoop Media