ZIMBABWE would not allow journalists working for the Independent Newspapers group to cover the presidential election in that country, a Zimbabwean government official said on Thursday. ”We would not include such a paper,” said Eddie Mamutse, a representative in the Information Ministry where applications for accreditation to cover the polls are processed. He said the reason was that Independent employed prominent Zimbabwean-born journalist Basildon Peta. Mamutse was quoted on Tuesday, saying a very large newspaper or organisation ”whose reporting on us may not have been favourable” would likely be rejected. On Monday, Harare told the Sunday Times,, the Independent Newspapers group and Beeld that their applications to cover the presidential polls were turned down. However, Mamutse said on Thursday applications for Rapport, Beeld, the SABC and e.tv were now approved. He said the Sunday Times and many others who have applied would have to wait to learn their fate. ”We can only act from a letter indicating that (those organisations) are interested to cover the elections,” Mamutse said. ”We have a difficulty with the former Zimbabwean journalist. This is to say his employers would not be able to cover the elections.” -Sapa
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