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Gweru freelance journalist missing
MISA-Zimbabwe
April 01, 2009

Gweru-based freelance journalist Kudzai Musengi is reportedly missing amid growing concern by his family and colleagues who were still to ascertain his whereabouts on 1 April 2009.

Musengi's unknown circumstances came to light after he failed to return home after normal working hours on 31 March 2009 prompting his wife to check with colleagues as to whether they knew of his whereabouts. He was last seen by his colleagues in Gweru late on Tuesday afternoon after attending a meeting they held to plan for the May 3 World Press Freedom Day commemorations.

MISA-Zimbabwe has since engaged Tonderai Chitere, a member of the Media Lawyers Network who said they had checked, but to no avail, all the police stations and hospitals in Gweru including a visit to the Central Intelligence Organisation's (CIO) offices in the Midlands town. Chitere said concern over Musengi's whereabouts come on the backdrop of alleged reports he received from unidentified persons on 26 March 2009 at a local hotel over reports of fresh invasions of commercial farms.

Chitere said they had since made a report to the police law and order section in Gweru following their fruitless search for Musengi. "The police said they were going to conduct their own investigations and that we should not hesitate to contact them if we get any leads on his whereabouts," said Chitere.

He said the police had advised them to file a formal missing persons report on 2 April 2009 if Musengi is not found within the lapsing of the stipulated 48 hours from the time he went missing on 31 March 2009.

MISA-Zimbabwe position

MISA-Zimbabwe is gravely concerned with Musengi's safety and security as this comes on the backdrop of the abduction of Zimbabwe Peace Project director and former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television news anchor Jestina Mukoko and freelance photojournalist Shadreck Manyere in December last year.

Mukoko and Manyere were allegedly tortured by their abductors when they went missing on 3 December and 13 December 2008 respectively as their whereabouts remained unknown until their appearance in court on 24 December 2008 together with alleged Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists on alleged charges of banditry.

MISA-Zimbabwe strongly appeals to the authorities and law enforcement agencies to do everything within their power and means to ensure that they find Musengi and in particular issue stern warnings that the abductions, threats and harassment of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties will be met with the full wrath of the law.

Journalists will only be assured of their safety and security once the government and law enforcement agencies assert their authority impartially by getting to the bottom of these unlawful actions against journalists as this will act in sending a strong and deterrent message to would-be other perpetrators.

MISA-Zimbabwe further commends journalists in Gweru for immediately rallying behind their colleague through their swift response and continuing efforts to ascertain his whereabouts.

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