2002

Feb 24: The South African branch of Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe's governing party, lambasts the "imperialistic media" for "demonising" President Robert Mugabe by blaming him for lawlessness in that country.

Feb 21: Independent newspapers not allowed in Zimbabwe 

Feb 20: Zimbabwe has agreed to reconsider its move to bar several South African publications from covering next month's presidential elections, according to the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef).

Feb 17:  Aziz Pahad, the Deputy Foreign Minister, calls on the media to stop "demonising" Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, to avoid giving him any excuses if he loses next month's presidential election

Feb 15: Basildon Peta, a Zimbabwean journalist who was accused by a British newspaper of lying about his arrest and detention in Zimbabwe last week, quits his job and leaves the country for South Africa

Feb 5: Charges have been dropped against a Zimbabwean journalist who writes for Britain's Independent daily, after he was held overnight under the country's new security laws.

Jan 31: Parliament approves a controversial information bill that limits press freedoms for independent and foreign journalists.  Britain and the United States immediately condemn the law.

Jan 30: Three jounalists from the independent press, two from the Daily News and one from the weekly Standard, are detained for five hours after protesting against the bill. They are charged with illegal assembly.

Jan 29: RSF says Zimbabwe has refused its request for a visa.

Jan 23: Home Minister John Nkomo warns rights groups and journalists that they could face prosecution under a new security law.

Jan 22: The United States criticizes the press bill and warns that Mugabe, his top aides could face sanctions.

Jan 19: Some 60 journalists, both Zimbabwean and foreigners representing most media in the country, condemn the bill.

Jan 15: London declares that the new press bill is "completely inconsistent" with the principles of the Commonwealth.

Jan 11: The International Press Institute expresses extreme concern over new legislation in Zimbabwe, particularly the press bill.

2001

Nov 30: The government approves a new press bill, which needs parliamentary approval before becoming law.

Nov 23: The government publishes the names of six journalists working for foreign media, including four Britons, accused of aiding "terrorists" --Mugabe's new description of his opponents.  Washington and London threaten to take diplomatic action.

Nov 13: Information Minister Jonathan Moyo warns foreign correspondents against "demonizing" the regime, and threatens more arrests of journalists.

Nov 8: The Daily News editor in chief and the former CEO of its parent company are arrested and held for 24 hours, before being charged with fraud.

Aug 15: The editor and deputy editor of the Daily News are arrested and charged. Two other journalists are questioned by police. They are released the next day.

July 26: The government decides to stop accrediting journalists from the BBC, accusing it of failing to adhere to "professional and ethical standards."

June 27: Authorities refuse to renew the work permit for David Blair, correspondent for Britain's Daily Telegraph.

June 13: The information ministry announces that foreign journalists must apply for accreditation at least one month before their intended arrival in the country.

June 8: Reporters without Borders asks the government to ensure an end to harassment of journalists in Zimbabwe, which it calls "the most repressive nation for press freedoms in southern Africa."

April 4: Parliament approves a law, already in effect by presidential decree, that imposes stiff restrictions on people  wishing to open a private radio or television station.

Feb 17: Two journalists, Joseph Winter of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Mercedes Sayagues who worked for a South African paper, are ordered to leave the country. Winter leaves on February 19 and Sayagues on February 22.

Jan 28: A bomb blast destroys the printing press of Zimbabwe's only private daily newspaper, the Daily News. The paper's downtown offices were the target of a bomb attack in April 2000.

Aug 22: Editor-in-chief of the independent weekly, The Standard, Mark Chavunduka, is arrested and detained for several hours on allegations of "criminal defamation" of President Robert Mugabe.  His arrest brings to eight the number of journalists arrested in one week.