Trever Ncube, publisher of Zimbabwe's two remaining independent newspapers The Zimbabwe Independent and The Sunday Standard is among 60 government critics who are to be banned from leaving the country.

Mr. Ncube's passport was taken from him by a member of Zimbabwe's internal secret service as he was leaving Bulawayo airport. When he asked what crime he had committed to warrant the confiscation of his passport he was told only that the order came from the president's office.

President Mugabe passed a constitutional ammendment earlier this year that entitles his government to seize the passport of anyone "acting against the national interest"; Mr Ncube is the first individual to be subjected to this legislation.

John Makumbe, political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe said the following: "Trevor publishes the only independent newspapers in Zimbabwe. This is a new onslaught against what remains of a free press. The government will pounce on all critics and tell them they are locked in Zimbabwe. The country is becoming like a big prison. We are all in jail."

The targeting of Ncube is seen as a new step by Mugabe towards totally eradicating a free press and any criticism of the government. Mr Ncube's papers have already received a number of warnings from the government media and information commision, which has closed down four newspapers incuding The Daily News, Zimbabwe's biggest daily.

Mr Ncube is currently consulting with his lawyers in efforts to challenge the decision. He spoke defiantly about his predicament: "People are not free to speak their mind and move freely. I'm angry at this abuse of authority. Zimbabwe is not a normal country when rights can be taken away like this. If they think they will stop me from speaking against injustice, corruption and misgovernance by taking away my passport, then they are mistaken. It won't stop me."

Source: MediaGuardian