The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
4 April 2008
ZIMBABWEAN police have arrested two unaccredited foreign journalists at a hotel in the capital Harare.
The police issued a statement Thursday saying the reporters had been covering the country's election without accreditation.
Western journalists and media are banned from reporting in Zimbabwe.
Al Jazeera is the only international news agency covering elections in Zimbabwe.
Pulitzer Prize-winner Barry Bearak, a New York Times correspondent based in Johannesburg was arrested at 6 p.m. Thursday evening. The identity of the other journalist was not known at time of going to press.
Zimbabwean authorities warned last week that they would deal severely with journalists who were caught operating illegally.
"I can only confirm that we have arrested two foreign journalists at York Lodge," national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said.
"They are being investigated for practising without accreditation. They were picked up early this evening and taken to police custody."
On 27 March 2008, two South African journalists were arrested in Harare and charged with violating the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). Magistrate Kudya set 2 April as their trial date.
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