The Daily News, Zimbabwe's only independent daily newspaper was shut down on Friday by armed police officers. It was sealed off without lawful warrant.
"Our government, other states in the region and organizations such as SADC (Southern African Development Community) should put pressure on the Zimbabwean government to ensure that the Daily News is immediately reopened and remains open pending the Supreme Court's final determination of the constitutional challenges," spokesperson advocate Brian Spilg said yesterday.
He said the committee deplored this further act of state sponsored lawlessness, "which is made more reprehensible because the police are aware that the court has yet to rule on the merits of a constitutional challenge to the Zimbabwean press laws... which the Daily News is still intending to pursue, despite a recent unfavourable interim decision".
The Daily News was the highest circulating newspaper in Zimbabwe and often published articles critical of the ruling party and its leaders, Spilg said.
The South African government was not immediately available for comment. – Sapa.
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