News / National
ZUJ calls for govt to protect journos
28 Jun 2016 at 01:48hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ, has called on the government to protect journalists who have fallen victim to an epidemic of arrests and detentions primarily at the hands of the Police.
The union said other journalists have been beaten up by political activists while others were assaulted by unidentified individuals.
In a majority of cases, the journalists have been arrested or beaten up while on assignment.
"ZUJ would like to make it clear that working journalists are protected by the Zimbabwean constitution and that anybody preventing journalists from working would be violating the national constitution," reads the ZUJ statement.
"On Monday, 27 June, journalist, James Jemwa was briefly kidnapped and detained by unidentified people in civilian clothing."
On Saturday, 25 June, there was carnage when five journalists, Garikai Chaunza, Christopher Mahove, James Jemwa, Khumbulani Zamchiya and Edgar Gweshe were arrested while covering a demonstration against a senior government official.
They were released at around 5 PM.
These come after recent cases of assaults on Kingstone Mapupu in Mbare, Paidamoyo Muzulu who was arrested while on assignment and Albert Masaka who was beaten up by political activists.
ZUJ Secretary General, Foster Dongozi condemned the outbreak of intolerance against journalists urging government, political and police leadership to intervene.
"The journalists have been targeted while doing legitimate business. Police need to familiarise themselves with the constitution which will enable them to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner while in the presence of journalists. The people behind the arrests of journalists are the ones giving this country a bad name," said Dongozi.
The union said other journalists have been beaten up by political activists while others were assaulted by unidentified individuals.
In a majority of cases, the journalists have been arrested or beaten up while on assignment.
"ZUJ would like to make it clear that working journalists are protected by the Zimbabwean constitution and that anybody preventing journalists from working would be violating the national constitution," reads the ZUJ statement.
"On Monday, 27 June, journalist, James Jemwa was briefly kidnapped and detained by unidentified people in civilian clothing."
They were released at around 5 PM.
These come after recent cases of assaults on Kingstone Mapupu in Mbare, Paidamoyo Muzulu who was arrested while on assignment and Albert Masaka who was beaten up by political activists.
ZUJ Secretary General, Foster Dongozi condemned the outbreak of intolerance against journalists urging government, political and police leadership to intervene.
"The journalists have been targeted while doing legitimate business. Police need to familiarise themselves with the constitution which will enable them to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner while in the presence of journalists. The people behind the arrests of journalists are the ones giving this country a bad name," said Dongozi.
Source - Byo24News
