News / National
ZLHR concerned over rising harassment of journalists
04 Nov 2015 at 06:46hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Communications and Marketing manager Kumbirai Mafunda has said his organisation is very much concerned over the increase in cases of journalists being harassed and arrested by the police.
"02 November 2015 is International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and we at ZLHR are concerned by the rising numbers of media practitioners who have been arrested, harassed, intimidated, assaulted, prosecuted and verbally abused for carrying out their legitimate work," Mafunda.
"Just last week journalists Sydney Saize Bernard Chiketo and Kenneth Nyangani were detained and interrogated at Rusape Police Station after being picked up during a protest held at Rusape Magistrates Court. We have also noted the increasing appetite by those who wield power to issue threats at public gatherings aimed at intimidating and silencing media practitioners. We have also not forgotten about the arrest, harassment, assault and prosecution of Angela Jimu, Privilege Musvanhiri, Edgar Gweshe, Philemon Jambaya among others."
He said they remain concerned that freelance journalist and pro-democracy campaigner Itai Dzamaraa remains missing several months after he was disappeared.
"Those who bombed the Daily News' printing press, the offices of Radio VOP and have raided offices of Radio Dialogue and other community broadcasting initiatives and their personnel must be held to account for their actions," said Mafunda. "
We take it that impunity has the effect of damaging societies through covering up gross human rights violations and that's why we call upon Zimbabwean authorities to end this culture of impunity among media practitioners. ZLHR calls upon the government to implement definite measures to counter the culture of impunity and help foster a culture of human rights."
"02 November 2015 is International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and we at ZLHR are concerned by the rising numbers of media practitioners who have been arrested, harassed, intimidated, assaulted, prosecuted and verbally abused for carrying out their legitimate work," Mafunda.
"Just last week journalists Sydney Saize Bernard Chiketo and Kenneth Nyangani were detained and interrogated at Rusape Police Station after being picked up during a protest held at Rusape Magistrates Court. We have also noted the increasing appetite by those who wield power to issue threats at public gatherings aimed at intimidating and silencing media practitioners. We have also not forgotten about the arrest, harassment, assault and prosecution of Angela Jimu, Privilege Musvanhiri, Edgar Gweshe, Philemon Jambaya among others."
He said they remain concerned that freelance journalist and pro-democracy campaigner Itai Dzamaraa remains missing several months after he was disappeared.
"Those who bombed the Daily News' printing press, the offices of Radio VOP and have raided offices of Radio Dialogue and other community broadcasting initiatives and their personnel must be held to account for their actions," said Mafunda. "
We take it that impunity has the effect of damaging societies through covering up gross human rights violations and that's why we call upon Zimbabwean authorities to end this culture of impunity among media practitioners. ZLHR calls upon the government to implement definite measures to counter the culture of impunity and help foster a culture of human rights."
Source - Byo24News
