21/4/2008

"As many of you would have heard by now Mags was released on Tuesday  
on bail. At this stage they have seized her travel documents and she  
is confined to our home in Bulawayo. We are hoping to get a  
relaxation on the  bail order when she comes before the courts  
tomorrow (Tuesday). In fact we are hoping that the case will be  
dropped as it is not an offence to practice journalism in Zimbabwe  
and in the cases against assorted foreign journalists in Harare the  
attorney General has declined to prosecute.

Margaret is in good spirits and has been completely overwhelmed by  
the incredible show of support from all her readers around the world,  
and from her friends here at home and abroad. At this stage she is  
not feeling up to communicating herself but has asked me to convey  
her heartfelt thanks to you all for your support, e-mails and good  
wishes.

She also feels extremely complimented by the fact that we believe her  
arrest was largely as a result of confusion  by the Zimbabwe State  
Authorities who could not decide whether she was the Sky  
correspondent Emma Hurd or our free lancing risk taking  24 year old  
daughter!  Both of whom are now safely out of the country.

She was however a little peeved by my reference to her as a '60 year  
old', when in fact she is only 59 and three quarters!  She has asked  
me to correct this misconception!

All things being well I am sure that Mags will be writing again by  
the end of this week.

Thank you all again for your support.

Rick Kriel"