News / Press Release
PDP condemns arrest of NewsDay journalists, police brutality
08 Jan 2016 at 16:47hrs | Views
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) strongly condemns the continued onslaught on the media by the state following this week's arrest of two NewsDay journalists, deputy editor Nqaba Matshazi, reporter Xolisani Ncube and the publication's legal officer Sifikile Thabethe.
The arrests of the three on Thursday will again open a dark chapter in Zimbabwe as we now have a government that clearly disregards the country's Constitution, which states how any aggrieved party can lodge a complaint against any media organisation or journalist.
As the PDP, we find it worrying that the latest round of arrests come less than a month after information minister, Chris Mushowe threatened journalists against reporting on security matters. Similar threats and attacks against journalists have also been issued by President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.
From these barbaric actions, it shows that Zanu PF has turned into a rogue state as it openly disregards the national Charter, which guarantees press freedom and freedom of expression as fundamental and democratic rights.
However, the PDP urges all journalists in Zimbabwe not to be intimidated by the threats made by the Zanu PF regime and to continue doing their professional work without fear or favour. The government must at all times be made accountable for its actions and the media must feel emboldened in that the regime is now panicking despite its threats and attacks.
This sense of insecurity by the state was again exhibited early this week in Harare and Chitungwiza when the heavily armed police officers used brutal force by beating and arresting innocent citizens demonstrating against non-payment of government workers salaries and the unilateral increases operating licences for transport operators by the Chitungwiza municipality. Some of the demonstrators assaulted by the police are still admitted in hospital where they receiving treatment.
The clueless Zanu PF government, which has failed to turn around the economy, has instead opted for the people of Zimbabwe to live under a de-facto state of emergency where it is able to trample upon their rights every day.
The stone-age mentality that the Zanu PF has resorted to is totally uncalled for in a modern Zimbabwe. It is an affront to the people's basic human rights demands.
Therefore, the PDP salutes the bravely shown this week by the Rural Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) and Zimbabwe Alliance Activists in standing up against the Zanu PF regime and demonstrated against the non-delivery and the substandard performance of the Zanu PF government.
The PDP is in total support of the people of Zimbabwe and urge them to come together and use their constitutional rights and hold peaceful demonstrations against the corrupt and evil Zanu PF government. The government of the day should be hold accountable and it should brace for more peaceful demonstrations against the misrule of the economy.
It is time that the people of Zimbabwe rise against this Zanu PF dictatorship.
The arrests of the three on Thursday will again open a dark chapter in Zimbabwe as we now have a government that clearly disregards the country's Constitution, which states how any aggrieved party can lodge a complaint against any media organisation or journalist.
As the PDP, we find it worrying that the latest round of arrests come less than a month after information minister, Chris Mushowe threatened journalists against reporting on security matters. Similar threats and attacks against journalists have also been issued by President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.
From these barbaric actions, it shows that Zanu PF has turned into a rogue state as it openly disregards the national Charter, which guarantees press freedom and freedom of expression as fundamental and democratic rights.
However, the PDP urges all journalists in Zimbabwe not to be intimidated by the threats made by the Zanu PF regime and to continue doing their professional work without fear or favour. The government must at all times be made accountable for its actions and the media must feel emboldened in that the regime is now panicking despite its threats and attacks.
This sense of insecurity by the state was again exhibited early this week in Harare and Chitungwiza when the heavily armed police officers used brutal force by beating and arresting innocent citizens demonstrating against non-payment of government workers salaries and the unilateral increases operating licences for transport operators by the Chitungwiza municipality. Some of the demonstrators assaulted by the police are still admitted in hospital where they receiving treatment.
The clueless Zanu PF government, which has failed to turn around the economy, has instead opted for the people of Zimbabwe to live under a de-facto state of emergency where it is able to trample upon their rights every day.
The stone-age mentality that the Zanu PF has resorted to is totally uncalled for in a modern Zimbabwe. It is an affront to the people's basic human rights demands.
Therefore, the PDP salutes the bravely shown this week by the Rural Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) and Zimbabwe Alliance Activists in standing up against the Zanu PF regime and demonstrated against the non-delivery and the substandard performance of the Zanu PF government.
The PDP is in total support of the people of Zimbabwe and urge them to come together and use their constitutional rights and hold peaceful demonstrations against the corrupt and evil Zanu PF government. The government of the day should be hold accountable and it should brace for more peaceful demonstrations against the misrule of the economy.
It is time that the people of Zimbabwe rise against this Zanu PF dictatorship.
Source - PDP
