Daily News hearing moved after MIC protest

Daily News hearing moved after MIC protest

• The Daily News' hearing date set

• Jakachira beats Aippa in test case

• Banned Daily News journalist's trial opens

• Daily News' demise: was it an inside job?

• Conrad Nyamutata: The Daily News - Zimbabwe's candle in the wind

• Daily News denied licence to publish

• No licence for suspended Tribune

• Court upholds Tribune closure

• Daily News journalists denied accreditation

• Daily News set to rise from ashes

• Supreme Court clears way for Daily News return

• Daily News ordered to pay £2bln to retrenched workers

• Daily News wins defamation suit against Moyo

• Judge offered farm to shut down Daily News

• Zim judge quits, goes into exile

• Zim jail threat for Daily News journos

• ANZ sues Moyo, Herald

• Moyo 'to fill jails with lying journalists'

• High Court orders police to quit Daily News

• Mugabe undermining judiciary

• Strive Masiyiwa, building of empire

• Police storm Daily News Press

• Judge gives Daily News green light

• Daily News publishes in Nigeria

• Masiyiwa vows to fight to 'last drop'

By Moyo Muturikwa

ZIMBABWE'S Administrative Court has indefinitely postponed the hearing of an appeal by the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) in which they are contesting the decision by a government-appointed watchdog to deny its two titles an operating licence.

The matter was pencilled to be heard on 21 and 22 September but the court postponed the hearing after the Media and Information Commission (MIC) strongly objected to the inclusion of two assessors who presided over the ANZ hearing in September 2003 when the same court heard ANZ's appeal.

ANZ are the publishers of the banished Daily News and its sister paper, The Daily News On Sunday.

The MIC argued that it would not get a fair hearing since the two assessors - Tendai Chari and Agustine Timbe - assisted former Administrative Court Judge Michael Majuru in 2003 when the Daily News appealed against the decision by the MIC to deny it a licence and also challenged the Constitutionality of the Commission.

Judge Majuru ruled in favour of the ANZ at that time but was forced to seek refuge in South Africa after government blasted him for ruling in favour of the ANZ.

He feared for his life if he were to return to Zimbabwe.

Ironically, the two assessors whom the MIC have objected to their inclusion, are strong Zanu PF sympathisers.

Timbe is one of a growing number of analysts that the state media turn to for "positive " comments whenever the government makes controversial decisions.

Chari is a former columnist in The Daily Mirror which has strong links with the government of President Mugabe. He runs a weekly column in the Sunday Mirror.

ANZ chief executive officer, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, said they would wait for new date to be announced but bemoaned the postponement which he said was a delaying tactic by the MIC.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com