News / Local
Herald journalist stripped of his clothes
18 Oct 2014 at 12:03hrs | Views
A female security officer at the Harare International Airport allegedly forced Justin Mutenda, a Herald photographer to take off all his clothes.
She went on to soak his clothes in water before forcing him to put them on before chucking him out of her office.
Mutenda had gone to the airport to cover the departure of the Zimbabwe national cricket side for Bangladesh when he was picked up by the female officer.
Mutenda reported the case at the airport police base under RRB 1948800.
The female security officer, who claimed to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation, verbally abused Mutenda, asking him why he was carrying a camera at the airport.
"She denied me the chance to identify myself as an accredited journalist despite my efforts of trying to do so before she force-marched me to an office, said Mutenda.
"She told me to sit on the floor, telling me that the powers of her office were much bigger than those of The Herald. She said she wanted to teach me a lesson on how to respect women and commanded me to remove all my clothes".
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president Michael Chideme condemned the barbaric actions of the airport official.
"This potrays a very negative picture of our country as it shows barbarism on the part of the officer. Imagine if this was done to a tourist. What image of Zimbabwe will they take back to their country?" said Chideme.
She went on to soak his clothes in water before forcing him to put them on before chucking him out of her office.
Mutenda had gone to the airport to cover the departure of the Zimbabwe national cricket side for Bangladesh when he was picked up by the female officer.
Mutenda reported the case at the airport police base under RRB 1948800.
The female security officer, who claimed to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation, verbally abused Mutenda, asking him why he was carrying a camera at the airport.
"She told me to sit on the floor, telling me that the powers of her office were much bigger than those of The Herald. She said she wanted to teach me a lesson on how to respect women and commanded me to remove all my clothes".
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president Michael Chideme condemned the barbaric actions of the airport official.
"This potrays a very negative picture of our country as it shows barbarism on the part of the officer. Imagine if this was done to a tourist. What image of Zimbabwe will they take back to their country?" said Chideme.
Source - Chronicle
