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Journalists covering Zimbabwe's food crisis detained
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
January 30, 2003

The police detained Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, The Daily News Chief Photographer and two American reporters covering Zimbabwe's food crisis, for almost seven hours in Bulawayo. The journalists were accused of unlawful entry into a Grain Marketing Board they had visited.

Mukwazhi was arrested together with Dina Kraft of The Associated Press and Jason Beaubien, Africa Correspondent of the National Public Radio as they were visiting a Grain Marketing Board depot in Bulawayo. The two Americans reporters came into Zimbabwe together with a fact-finding mission that was led by James Morris, head of the World Food Programme. The reporters are believed to have asked for and were granted an extension of their visas and accreditation by a week. The three were arrested together with Bulawayo and opposition, Movement for Democratic Change councillor, Charles Mpofu and his driver. It is reported that the journalists were denied access to their lawyer and were barred from communicating with anyone.

The journalists say the depot security officers allowed them in. No charges were preferred on the journalists. The journalists and the councillor who were arrested in the afternoon were released around 8 pm in the evening.

Meanwhile the government has deported the five Lutheran World Foundation workers who were visiting Zimbabwe. The five were accused of doing media work without licenses. They left Zimbabwe on 29 January.

For more information, contact:
Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer, MISA-Zimbabwe
221 Fife Ave
Box HR 8113, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone 263-(0)4-712841, 735441/2
Mobile 263-(0)11-602685
E Mail misa@mweb.co.zw

Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe fact sheet

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