Police arrested a director of Zimbabwe's only privately-owned daily newspaper today and said he would be held until other directors turned themselves in, a lawyer with the paper said.
The arrest, on charges of operating without a licence, came one day after police prevented the Daily News from resuming publication despite a court order which appeared to block government efforts to shut it down.
Ms Gugulethu Moyo, a legal adviser with the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), said Mr Washington Sansole, a former judge and a member of ANZ's nine-member board of directors was arrested in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city.
"They are holding him on charges of publishing without a licence, and they are saying they will hold him until the other directors turn themselves in (to face similar charges)," she said.
Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed Mr Sansole had been arrested, but dismissed as "desperate propaganda" suggestions that he was being held hostage.
However Comm Bvudzijena said police were keen to interview the other directors of ANZ - many of whom are based outside Zimbabwe - for publishing the Daily Newswithout authority.
Daily News owner Mr Strive Masiyiwa, a Zimbabwean who has emerged in the past decade as one of Africa's top businessmen, lives in South Africa.