Journalists arrested under cybersecurity law

Zimbabwe's press freedom credentials suffered further criticism with the arrest of two journalists from a privately-owned newspaper charged with transmitting 'false data messages.' AllAfrica site notes that the pair was charged on 3 August under the contentious Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, as amended through the Cyber and Data Protection Act, which became law in December last year despite spirited opposition from press freedom lobbyists and civic society groups. The Act has been criticised for giving too many powers to law enforcement authorities and the information Ministry, allowing the monitoring of private electronic communication in violation of the country's Constitution. These concerns come as Zimbabwe's record as one of the places where journalism is considered a dangerous profession worsens. The country has witnessed a steady increase in journalist arrests, which have failed to result in custodial sentences despite the routine arrests and weeks behind bars awaiting trial.