News / National
Police harass senior Masvingo journalist
19 Oct 2018 at 06:44hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ, would like to condemn police details in Masvingo, south east of Zimbabwe after they confiscated a press card belonging to the Union's First Vice President, Godfrey Mtimba.
Mtimba is the immediate past Secretary General of the Brussels headquartered International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC which represents several millions of young workers around the world.
He reported that a police assistant inspector pounced on him while he was taking photographs and filming a police crackdown on informal traders.
"I produced my press card after she asked me why I was filming but she grabbed it and asked me to delete what I had recorded. Naturally I refused and she then went away with my press card adding that I should collect it from the police station," said Mtimba.
He said he was too afraid to go to the police station alone but by end of day, had assembled a battery of lawyers to advise him.
ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi condemned the seizure of the press card and said there was an urgent need to retrain some members of the police force around interacting with different sectors of the country.
"Clearly the attitude described by our member is unprofessional and crude. Police members need to be told that journalism is not a crime. When interacting with journalists, we urge police officers to be professional, dignified, polite and respectful," said the Secretary General.
He said African and international media organizations and trade unions had requested urgent updates on developments surrounding Mtimba's case.
Mtimba is the immediate past Secretary General of the Brussels headquartered International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC which represents several millions of young workers around the world.
He reported that a police assistant inspector pounced on him while he was taking photographs and filming a police crackdown on informal traders.
"I produced my press card after she asked me why I was filming but she grabbed it and asked me to delete what I had recorded. Naturally I refused and she then went away with my press card adding that I should collect it from the police station," said Mtimba.
ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi condemned the seizure of the press card and said there was an urgent need to retrain some members of the police force around interacting with different sectors of the country.
"Clearly the attitude described by our member is unprofessional and crude. Police members need to be told that journalism is not a crime. When interacting with journalists, we urge police officers to be professional, dignified, polite and respectful," said the Secretary General.
He said African and international media organizations and trade unions had requested urgent updates on developments surrounding Mtimba's case.
Source - Byo24News
