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Prominent
journalist and human rights activist kidnapped from her home
Reportes
Sans Frontiers
December 03, 2008
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29533
Reporters Without Borders
voiced deep disquiet after journalist and human rights activist
Jestina Mukoko was abducted at dawn today from her home near the
capital Harare.
The journalist, a former broadcaster at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation (ZBC) then privately-owned Voice of The People (VOP),
was snatched from her home in Norton, 40 kilometres from the capital,
by 15 men in plain clothes, Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said.
"One of the unmarked vehicles which was used in the kidnapping
was a grey Mazda 323 Familia" the ZLHR added. The reason for
the kidnapping is still unknown and police have refused to comment.
"Everything must be done to secure the swift release of Jestina
Mukoko and to ensure her safety", the worldwide press freedom
said. "If it is an arrest and the state security apparatus
is involved, it should immediately make clear what the journalist
is charged with and publicly announce where she is being held".
"If it is on the other hand a kidnapping, the authorities
should rapidly do everything possible to find those responsible
for this cowardly act and bring them to justice," it added.
Jestina Mukoko heads the human rights body, the Zimbabwe
Peace Project (ZPP), that has reported regularly on political
violence in 2008 as ZANU-PF, the party of President Robert Mugabe,
was beaten in the first round of elections in March by the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
and around 200 opposition supporters were killed. Refusing to accept
defeat, the government in September signed a power-sharing agreement
with the opposition but the two sides have so far failed to agree
on the allocation of key ministries.
Freelance cameraman, Edward Chikomba, was found dead on 31 March
2007 after being abducted in similar circumstances. Despite an absence
of proof, suspicion has been directed at intelligence service agents.
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