Zambia Challenged Over Freedom of Expression

The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Pansy Tlakula, has appealed to Zambia’s president to repeal a law used to convict and imprison Fred M’membe, the editor-in-chief of The Post.

 

Tlakula, who is also South Africa’s chief electoral officer, says section 116 (1) (d) of the Zambia Penal code, which was used to convict M’membe, is incompatible with regional and international guarantees of freedom of expression.

 

As a representative of the African Union, she urged the Zambian government to bring its laws in line with international standards and for President Rupiah Banda to pardon M’membe, who was sentenced this month to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour. //End//  Source:  Business Day

 

 

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Reagan Malumo

Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

 

- June 18, 2010 by MISA

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Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert 18.06.10)