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Cablegate: Supreme Court Rules Against Part of Media

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

UNCLAS HARARE 000891

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO ZI
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PART OF MEDIA
CONTROL LAW

1. On May 8 the Zimbabwe Supreme Court ruled that
Section 80 of the controversial Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) is
unconstitutional and invalidated that section of the
Act. Section 80 made the publication of a
"falsehoods" a criminal offense. In testimony before
the ruling, the government's lawyer conceded that
Section 80 was vaguely worded and could be interpreted
so broadly that it would conflict with
constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.

2. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has stated
that he will present a revised Section 80 to
Parliament for passage and enactment.
SULLIVAN

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