Back to Index

Studio 7 correspondent arrested at Cathedral
Zimbabwe Journalists for Human Rights
February 17, 2008

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3566&cat=1

Harare - Armed riot police beat up Anglican parishioners at the Cathedral and arrested five including a Studio 7 Correspondent Fazila Mahomed for allegedly operating as a journalist without state accreditation from the Media and Information Commission.

Some of those arrested include a member of the Vabvuwi Guild, a men's fellowship in the Anglican Church Evison Bhonzo and the Churchwarden for the Cathedral only identified as Mrs. Chibaya and three others whose identities could not be immediately confirmed.

All parishioners were not charged and returned to continue with their church service, outside the cathedral after former Harare Bishop Nolbert Kunonga continued to defy Judge President Rita Makarau's judgment that Anglicans in Harare Diocese would share the church services until the dispute has been finalized. They sustained some bruises on their limbs.

The Zimbabwe Journalists for Human Rights condemns in the strongest terms the high-handedness of the state police against innocent people worshipping God, let alone the assault of a journalist carrying out her professional duties. Failure to produce a MIC accreditation card does not in anyway warrant harassment or threats.

This display of unnecessary bravado by the police demonstrates the lengths at which they will go to deny Zimbabweans their right to worship.

Fazila was merely standing by the church witnessing as the deputy sheriff attempted to break the locks at the cathedral to allow parishioners entry into the church when the police arrested her.

The response of the police has shown the world how crude and senseless the police can become when faced with unarmed citizens exercising their rights. Given the forthcoming elections, we urge the media to be watchful of overzealous policemen who act without thought.

She was represented at the police station by lawyer Tafadzwa Mugabe of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights while the parishioners were represented by Diocesan registrar Mike Chingore and Diocesan Secretary Christopher Tapera.

The police confiscated her tape recorder and headphones. Fazila is set to return to the police station tomorrow in the company of her lawyer to know her fate.

For details and comments please contact the undersigned

Precious Shumba (Secretary General) - +263 91 2 869 294

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP