HARARE – New York Times freelance journalist Jeffrey Moyo, 37, entered a not guilty plea in a case where he’s accused of smuggling two other New York Times journalists into the country last year.
Moyo’s trial started in the Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court yesterday and he’s being represented by human rights lawyers Douglas Coltart and Beatrice Mtetwa.
On Tuesday, his lawyers told the magistrate that they were ready for trial, and that further delays would be a travesty to justice.
On May 26 last year, Moyo was arrested with his co-accused, Zimbabwe Media Commission official Thabang Manhika, for allegedly processing fake accreditations for two New York Times reporters – Christina Goldbaum and João Silva – who flew into Bulawayo from Johannesburg.
Manhika on Tuesday raised concerns about the charges he was facing, a situation that could have resulted in a delay in the trial.
However, Moyo’s lawyers applied for separation, which was granted. Manhika will go to court separately on January 24 to face charges of providing fake accreditation.
Their case has drawn international attention, with the Committee to Protect Journalists saying it was “astounding” that Moyo was set to go on trial.
Zimbabwe was ranked at 130 out of 180 countries on the media freedom index in 2021, compared to its ranking at 126 in 2020 by the Reporters Without Borders. –
