News / National
Journalists detained at Zanu-PF Headquarters
24 Jun 2013 at 14:45hrs | Views
Wendy Muperi and Wonai Masvingise, journalists with privately-owned newspapers, Daily News and NewsDay respectively, were on Friday, 21 June 2013 briefly detained by Zanu-PF security personnel while covering a demonstration at the political party's headquarters in the capital, Harare.
Muperi said: "Initially, all the five journalists covering the protest (by Zanu-PF supporters) were detained, but the other three were released after it was established that they were from the state media."
She also said during interrogations, they were told that the independent media were championing the 'regime change agenda' and that they deserved to be taught a lesson to desist from being traitors.
The reporters were only rescued following the intervention of the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu.
The Zimbabwe Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) said it commends Minister Shamu's intervention as a positive move that helps in educating political party supporters that journalists should be allowed to conduct their lawful professional duties without hindrance.
Journalists should be allowed to report news freely without fear of harassment in order for them to inform, educate and entertain readers and viewers.
Muperi said: "Initially, all the five journalists covering the protest (by Zanu-PF supporters) were detained, but the other three were released after it was established that they were from the state media."
She also said during interrogations, they were told that the independent media were championing the 'regime change agenda' and that they deserved to be taught a lesson to desist from being traitors.
The reporters were only rescued following the intervention of the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu.
The Zimbabwe Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) said it commends Minister Shamu's intervention as a positive move that helps in educating political party supporters that journalists should be allowed to conduct their lawful professional duties without hindrance.
Journalists should be allowed to report news freely without fear of harassment in order for them to inform, educate and entertain readers and viewers.
Source - MISA-Zimbabwe
