The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called on Zimbabwe authorities to drop the charges against New York Times correspondent Jeff Moyo.
Moyo, who was accused of assisting two New York Times colleagues to illegally enter Zimbabwe, was released from jail late on Tuesday – three weeks after he was arrested.
“CPJ welcomes journalist Jeffrey Moyo’s belated release, after three weeks in detention,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator.
“Zimbabwean authorities must immediately drop the charges against and allow his two New York Times colleagues back into the country after their May expulsion.”
The Zimbabwean Media Commission alleged that the two journalists had not obtained permission to work in the country and were not accredited.
Legal representative Amanda Sihle Ndlovu said Moyo was finally freed from detention in Bulawayo prison late Tuesday evening after a court ruled to grant his release on bail at ZW$5,000 (US$59).
Moyo said the conditions in jail were unbearable and bemoaned the harsh treatment of journalists in Zimbabwe.
