PEN Members and Friends are encouraged to write and mail or fax at least one letter of appeal to the Zimbabwean authorities demanding the repeal of the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A sample letter of appeal, which may be used fully or partially, is provided below for your convenience. You may also wish to make reference to the PEN resolution passed by delegates at the 2002 International PEN Congress in Macedonia and the points raised in the section dealing with the Zimbabwean Constitution.

[Date]

His Honorable Cde Robert Mugabe
Executive President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Office of the President
Private Bag 7700
Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: 011 263 4 734644 or 708557

Your Excellency,

I am writing to express my serious and urgent concern about two pieces of legislation that seriously curtail the right to freedom of expression in Zimbabwe: the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

I understand that both bills grossly hamper the free flow of information by placing severe restrictions on what the media is allowed to publish and granting permission to arrest and prosecute any author who openly expresses criticism of government officials. I was shocked to learn that journalists must now register to practice their professions and comply with standards that will no doubt promote self-censorship to seek or retain accreditation.

In light of this information, I respectfully request that both laws be repealed so that the right to freedom of expression may be fully restored in Zimbabwe.

Sincerely,

[Your name and signature]

Cc: H. E. Simbi Veke Mubako
Embassy of Zimbabwe to the United States
1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
Fax: 202 483-9326