NEW York Times correspondent Jeffrey Moyo (pictured) has appealed Bulawayo magistrate Rachel Mukanga’s decision to deny him bail following his arrest for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.
CHIPA GONDITII
In the appeal through his lawyers Mtetwa and Nyambirai, Moyo argued that he has been over-detailed in violation of section 50 (2) of the constitution.
Moyo said he is not a threat to national security and can be released on bail pending trial.
“There was nothing, ex facie the allegations, which remotely suggests threats to national security and the allegation was merely thrown in as an attempt to hoodwink the court. Her reason for upholding that ground was predicated on an erroneous belief that the Minister of Information needs to ‘approve’ foreign journalists interviewing local people,” he argued.
Moyo is offering to deposit ZW$5 000, hand in his passport, report to the nearest police station once a month and reside at his given address.
Moyo was remanded to 24 June and his detention has sparked global outrage from media campaigners, shining the spotlight on Zimbabwe’s press freedom amid an unrelenting crackdown on journalists.
According to state papers, Moyo allegedly assisted two New York Times journalists to fraudulently acquire accreditation in cahoots with a Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) employee, Thabang Manhika.
The state alleges that Moyo assisted the foreign journalists to interview people without the approval of the minister of Information.
Moyo was arrested without a warrant at his residence in Harare on 26 May and detained at Harare Central Police Station, before he was transferred to Bulawayo Central Police Station on 27 May.
Moyo was denied bail by magistrate Mukanga on 28 May.
At the time he appeared in court, he had already been over-detained beyond the constitutionally stipulated 48 hours.
