Harare, Zimbabwe - A banned newspaper, the Daily News, was relaunched Friday in Zimbabwe after being re-registered by the authorities seven years after it was forcibly closed down. The privately-owned daily paper, which was sharply critical of President Robert Mugabe's government, was shut down for failing to register with a state media commission. But the Daily News and its sympathizers alleged it was banned because of its critical reporting on the government, and sympathies for the opposition. It becomes the fourth daily newspaper in the country - two privately-owned and two owned by the government.

In its maiden editorial, the Daily News said it would be 'telling it like it is, without fear or favour.'

'We won't stand by while rampant corruption and crass materialism disable both government and the private sector. We will shout at the top of our voices when we detect abuse of power and political intolerance,' it said.

'We unapologetically declare that we will take a critical stand against bad governance and expose it for the entire nation to see. As victims of a calculated onslaught against freedom of expression, we take cognisance of the fact that there are some who erroneously believe that we are part of the MDC (main opposition party) and therefore of the regime-change agenda,' it added.

'We are an independent business entity, driven by determination to bring about democracy and to make clean money through telling the people what is really happening in our country,' the Daily News said.

But most of the stories in the maiden issue were already critical of Mugabe, with the lead story questioning whether the veteran leader should continue ruling at the advanced age of 87.

Pana 18/03/2011