Zimbabwean Leaders in Power-Sharing Discussions; Media Workers Assaulted by Police in Ghana; Cameroonian Songwriter's Detention Continues Despite Reports of Ill Health

Julie Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor-Journal

HARARE, South Africa - South African President Thabo Mbeki mediated talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, on Sunday in Harare. The talks lasted 14 hours and focused on the main issue of how the power will be split between the two leaders and exactly what roles Tsvangirai will play in the government. There are reports that Mugabe will remain as president while Tsvangirai will become the executive prime minister.

Mugabe reported that only "little hurdles" remain and consensus appears close in the negotiations, as discussions were set to continue on Monday. Tsvangirai did not comment after the last set of discussions, and Mbeki is scheduled to return home on Monday. A representative for Mbeki did not comment on whether or when a deal would be reached.

Violence erupted after a disputed March election where Tsvangirai won a majority of the votes, but not enough to avoid another election. In the re-election, Tsvangirai did not run due to violence directed at his supporters.

For more information, please see:

CNN - Zimbabwe power-sharing deal close, sources say - 9 August 2008

Reuters - Mugabe: only "little hurdles" to Zimbabwe deal - 11 August 2008

BBC - Zimbabwe crisis talks to resume - 11 August 2008

ACCRA, Ghana - Ghanaian police burst into the offices of Radio Gold, a radio station that primarily supports the country's opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), after the station interviewed a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The interviewee was accused of fraud in relation to election processes and voter registration.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa, an NPP official present at the interview decided to turn the suspect over to the police himself, a move that angered NDC supporters. After this incident, it is reported that police entered and began to assault people. Police insist that they arrived at the scene in response to an armed robbery, not to raid the station.

Several people were injured, including the station's financial controller and a graphic designer. The former was detained at a police station in Accra and was accused of obstruction.

The police response has angered many, and the Ghana Journalists' Association has stated that any grievances with the media should go to the National Media Commission.

For more information, please see:
AllAfrica.com - Ghana: Police Storm Radio Station, Assault Two Media Workers - 8 August 2008

VOA.com - Ghana Police Condemned for Storming a Radio Station - 6 August 2008

Media Foundation for West Africa - Ghana ALERT: Police assault media workers - 7 August 2008

LONDON, England - The detention of Lapiro de Mbanga, a songwriter whose controversial song about Cameroon's constitution reportedly resulted in his arrest, is being protested by the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC). WiPC claims that Mbanga's health is being adversely effected by the conditions of his detention and that medical care is lacking. They are urging the Cameroonian government to either provide evidence of the charges or release him immediately.

Mbanga was arrested for inciting strikes and demonstrations on April 9, 2008, but the Media Foundation for Western Africa claims that his arrest was due to a song he wrote about a new amendment that removes any temporal limits to the presidency and immunizes sitting presidents for acts committed during their term.

Mbanga's detention has now reached four months, after finally being charged on July 9. Mbanga has pleaded not guilty; a two-year prison sentence could be imposed if convicted. There is controversy over whether Mbanga was actually initiating the protests or whether he was trying to prevent them.

WiPC was set up by International PEN to prevent the detention of writers who are critical of governments.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com - Cameroon: Songwriter Remains in Detention; WiPC Concerned for His Failing Health - 8 August 2008

AllAfrica.com - Cameroon: Lapiro De Mbanga Sick in Prison - 7 July 2008

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