Harare - Zimbabwe's highest court on Thursday endorsed laws tightening government control over the media, ruling that the legislation did not violate journalists' rights to free speech.
President Robert Mugabe introduced the laws after his controversial re-election in March 2002, a move critics say was aimed at silencing government opponents as the southern African country struggles with a deep political and economic crisis.
The laws, collectively called the Access to Information and Privacy Act, require journalists to register with a state media commission and be subject to its regulations.
Dozens of journalists have already been prosecuted under the act, which has also been cited in police attempts to close down Zimbabwe's largest privately owned daily - a strong critic of the Mugabe government.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&art_id=qw1075990142437B253&set_id=1
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